On Friday, Sept. 6 a handful of Milligan representatives traveled to Springfield, Mass. to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in celebration and honor Milligan alum Del Harris for his receiving of the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Among the representatives were men’s basketball head coach, Bill Robinson, Board of Trustees member, Dale Clayton and President Bill Greer and his wife Edwina.
The award Harris received, the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, is the second most prestigious award to be given by the Basketball Hall of Fame. This award honors those who have contributed immensely to the sport and whose actions have impacted the game of basketball. Harris received this award for his outstanding 50-year coaching career and the impact he had on his players.
Harris attended Milligan in the late 1950s, where he played basketball and majored in religious studies. His coaching career began shortly after graduating in 1959, when he became the head coach for the men’s basketball team at Earlham College for nine seasons.
Harris is most commonly known for his professional coaching career, coaching teams such as the Houston Rockets, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
“It was awesome having someone like Del Harris, with everything he has done in his life, go up on that stage and represent and talk about Milligan,” said Robinson. Robinson also mentioned that Harris spoke about President Greer in his acceptance speech.
“It was truly awesome to be there and to have someone in that setting speak about Milligan,” said President Greer. “He [Del Harris] was really pleased that Milligan supported him by coming out.”
President Greer also talked about being introduced to Jim Naismith, grandson of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. He said that, along with sitting right beside Bill Walton, it was one of the neatest parts of the night.
Both Robinson and Greer mentioned how Harris, along with everyone else at the Hall of Fame banquet, were friendly and welcoming. “[Harris] wanted to take a picture of us and the award,” said Robinson. “He wanted us to be a part of that, which makes me feel like we were able to celebrate a night with a friend, someone who wanted us there.”
Robinson also talked about the influence that having a former Milligan basketball player receive such a prestigious award might have on current and future players. “This shows them they can still achieve whatever dreams they have…just because they went to a small college, it doesn’t limit their dreams,” said Robinson.
Headline photo: Bill Robinson (left) and Dale Clayton (right) post with Del Harris (middle) after receiving the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.