Dick Harter facts for kids
As a Pacers assistant in 2009
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 14, 1930 Pottstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | March 12, 2012 (aged 81) Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, U.S. |
| High school | The Hill School (Pottstown, Pennsylvania) |
| Career information | |
| College | Penn (1950–1953) |
| Coaching career | 1955–2010 |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1955–1956 | Penn (freshmen) |
| 1956–1958 | Germantown Academy |
| 1958–1965 | Penn (assistant) |
| 1965–1966 | Rider |
| 1966–1971 | Penn |
| 1971–1978 | Oregon |
| 1978–1983 | Penn State |
| 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) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Richard Alvin Harter (born October 14, 1930 – died March 12, 2012) was an American basketball coach. He worked as both a main coach and an assistant coach. He coached in the NBA (National Basketball Association) and in college basketball (NCAA).
Early Life and Start in Coaching
Richard Harter was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He went to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. There, he played basketball for the Penn Quakers team. He graduated in 1953. After college, he served for two years in the United States Marine Corps. Then, he started his coaching career. He was an assistant coach for freshmen at Penn. He also coached at Germantown Academy for three years. In 1959, he returned to Penn as an assistant coach.
College Head Coach
In 1965, Harter became the head coach at Rider University. Later, he returned to Penn as their head coach. He had great success at Penn. In his last two seasons, his team lost only one regular season game.
In 1971, Harter became the head coach at the University of Oregon. He was known as one of the best defensive coaches in the 1970s. His Oregon team was called the "Kamikaze Kids." They were famous for their intense, swarming defense. Many famous basketball players and coaches came from his Oregon program. These included Stu Jackson and Ernie Kent. After seven seasons at Oregon, Harter moved to Penn State in 1978. He coached there for five seasons.
NBA Coach
Harter's first job in the NBA was as an assistant coach. He joined the Detroit Pistons in 1982. In 1986, he became an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers.
In 1988, Harter got his first head coaching job in the NBA. He became the first head coach for the new team, the Charlotte Hornets. He coached them for their first season. In their second season (1989-1990), he was fired mid-season. The team's record was 8 wins and 32 losses.
After that, Harter continued his career as an assistant coach for several NBA teams. He worked for the New York Knicks (1991-1994) under coach Pat Riley. He also coached for the Portland Trail Blazers (1994-1997). He returned to the Indiana Pacers (1997-2000) under Larry Bird. Later, he was an assistant for the Boston Celtics (2001-2003). In 2004, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers. He returned to the Indiana Pacers for a third time in 2007. He worked there as an assistant coach until 2009.
Death
Richard Harter passed away on March 12, 2012. He was 81 years old. His death was caused by cancer. He died at a hospital in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he lived.
