Del Harris

For the English squash player, see Del Harris (squash player).

Del Harris

Delmer W. Harris (June 18, 1937, Plainfield (or Orleans), Indiana) is a former NBA head coach and current assistant coach of the Dallas Mavericks under head coach Avery Johnson.

[edit] United States

Early in his career Harris was coach at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana before entering professional ranks as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Mavericks, both times under Don Nelson. Later he was the head coach for the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Harris led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in the 1981 season, where they were defeated by the Boston Celtics four games to two. A native of Plainfield, Indiana, he is the father of Bucks general manager Larry Harris.

Del Harris also served as coach of the China national basketball team, where he coached NBA All-Star center Yao Ming and led China to a surprising upset victory over Serbia and Montenegro in the 2004 Athens Olympic games.

Prior to becoming the Lakers' head coach Harris was also a special consultant of Canadian national men's basketball team and their then head coach Ken Shields.

Preceded by: Tom Nissalke	Houston Rockets Head Coach 1979–1983	Succeeded by: Bill Fitch
Preceded by: Don Nelson	Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach 1987–1991	Succeeded by: Frank Hamblen
Preceded by: Magic Johnson	Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach 1994–1999	Succeeded by: Kurt Rambis