Dick Harter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dick Harter

Harter in 2009 as Indiana Pacers assistant coach
Personal information
Born (1930-10-14)October 14, 1930
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Died March 12, 2012(2012-03-12) (aged 81)
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Career information
High school The Hill School (Pottstown, Pennsylvania)
College Pennsylvania (1950–1953)
Coaching career 1955–2010
Career history
As coach:
1955–1956 Pennsylvania (NCAA I) (freshmen)
1956–1958 Germantown Academy
1958–1965 Pennsylvania (NCAA I) (assistant)
1965–1966 Rider (NCAA II)
1966–1971 Pennsylvania (NCAA I)
1971–1978 Oregon (NCAA I)
1978–1983 Penn State (NCAA I) (assistant)
1983–1986 Detroit Pistons (assistant)
1986–1988 Indiana Pacers (assistant)
1988–1990 Charlotte Hornets
1991–1994 New York Knicks (assistant)
1994–1997 Portland Trail Blazers (assistant)
1997–2000 Indiana Pacers (assistant)
2001–2004 Boston Celtics (assistant)
2004–2007 Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
2007–2010 Indiana Pacers (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Richard Alvin "Dick" Harter (October 14, 1930 – March 12, 2012) was an American basketball coach who served as both a head and assistant coach in both the NBA and NCAA.[1]

Early life

Born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Harter attended the University of Pennsylvania,[2] where he played basketball for the Quakers and graduated in 1953. He served two years as an officer in the Marine Corps, and then was an assistant freshman coach back at Penn for a year. He then coached at Germantown Academy for three years, then back to Penn in 1959 as an assistant coach.[3]

College head coach

Harter left Penn in 1965 to become head coach at Rider University for a season before taking over at Penn in 1966.[2] After success at Penn, with just one regular season defeat in his final two seasons, Harter was hired in April 1971 at the University of Oregon.[3] He succeeded Steve Belko, who stepped down after fifteen years and consecutive 17–9 seasons to become assistatnt athletic director.

Harter was regarded as one of the top defensive coaches in the 1970s, where his "Kamikaze Kids" at Oregon were known for a swarming defense. Many basketball notables came from Harter's Duck program, including Stu Jackson and former Oregon head coach Ernie Kent.[4] Harter left Eugene in 1978 for Penn State, staying for five seasons.[2]

NBA coach

Harter's first job in the NBA was as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons in the 1982–83 season. He left in 1986 to become an assistant for the Indiana Pacers. In 1988, he was hired into his first head coaching position, with the expansion Charlotte Hornets; he was the franchise's first ever head coach.[5] In the team's second season Harter was fired in 1990 during mid-season when the Hornets' record was 8–32.[6] Harter went on to be an assistant coach for the New York Knicks under Pat Riley (1991-1994), Portland Trail Blazers under P. J. Carlesimo (1994-1997), Indiana Pacers under Larry Bird (1997-2000), and Boston Celtics under Jim O'Brien.[7][8] Harter joined the Philadelphia 76ers' coaching staff on May 5, 2004.[5] On June 13, 2007, Harter joined the Indiana Pacers for the third time, as an assistant coach under Jim O'Brien.[9]

Death

Harter died on March 12, 2012, at the age of 81.[2][10][11]

College head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Rider University () (1965–1966)
1965–66 Rider 16-9
Rider: 16-9
University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League) (1966–1971)
1966–67 Penn 11–14 7–7 4th
1967–68 Penn 9–17 4–10 T–6th
1968–69 Penn 15–10 10–4 3rd
1969–70 Penn 25–2 14–0 1st NCAA 1st Round
1970–71 Penn 28–1 14–0 1st NCAA Elite 8
Penn: 88–44 49–21
University of Oregon (Pac-8 Conference) (1971–1978)
1971–72 Oregon 6–20 0–14
1972–73 Oregon 16–10 8–6
1973–74 Oregon 15–11 9–5
1974–75 Oregon 21–9 6–8 NIT Semifinals
1975–76 Oregon 19–11 10–4 NIT Quarterfinals
1976–77 Oregon 19–10 9–5 NIT Quarterfinals
1977–78 Oregon 16–11 6–8
Oregon: 112–82 48–50
Penn State University (Eastern 8 / Independent / Atlantic 10) (1978–1983)
Penn State (Eastern 8) (1978–1979)
1978-1979 Penn State 12-18 4-6
Penn State (Independent) (1979–1982)
1979-1980 Penn State 18-10 NIT 1st Round
1980-1981 Penn State 17-10
1981-1982 Penn State 15-12
Penn State (Atlantic 10) (1982–1983)
1982-1983 Penn State 17-11 9-5
Penn State: 79-61 13-11
Total: 295-196

      National champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference tournament champion
      Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference division champion

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary: Richard A. Harter". Burlington Free Press. August 12, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Fentress, Aaron (March 12, 2012). "Former Oregon Ducks basketball coach Dick Harter dies at 81". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 12, 2012. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cawood, Neil (April 21, 1971). "'Long, drawn out, tough decision,' says new Duck coach". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 1D. 
  4. ↑ Clark, Bob (March 12, 2012). "'Kamikaze Kids' coach Dick Harter, who led standout Oregon teams, dies at 81". Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved January 24, 2013. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harter joins O'Brien's staff - NBA - ESPN
  6. ↑ Dick Harter NBA & ABA Basketball Coaching Record | Basketball-Reference.com
  7. ↑ Celtics find winning combination on defense - NBA - ESPN
  8. ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers Names Penn Alumnus Dick Harter Assistant Coach". Penn Athletics. May 6, 2004. Retrieved November 26, 2013. 
  9. ↑ "76-year-old Harter returning for third stint with Pacers". San Diego Union-Tribune. June 14, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Sugar-Former Charlotte Hornets coach Dick Harter dies". Indiavision news. March 13, 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Ex-NBA assistant Dick Harter dies". ESPN. Associated Press. March 13, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013. 

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.