It’s a good day to be a Buff.
Milligan Alum and former NBA coach Del Harris was one of 13 individuals inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts on Saturday, September 10.
In a career that spans nearly five decades, Harris has stood courtside as the head coach for the Houston Rockets (’79-’80), Milwaukee Bucks (’91-’92), and the Los Angeles Lakers (’94-’99). His history as an assistant coach includes the Dallas Mavericks (’00 -’07), Chicago Bulls (’08-’09), and the New Jersey Nets (’09-’10).
Harris graduated from Milligan in 1959 as a religious studies major and 3-time All-Conference basketball player under the late Coach Duard Walker.
In his acceptance speech Saturday night, Harris first gave thanks to God and then mentioned his beloved alma mater.
“And to Milligan College, well represented here,” he said. “Milligan University now…to my late Coach Walker, and to my teammate and true friend, Coach Sonny Smith.”
Sonny Smith is a fellow Milligan Alum and former head basketball coach for Auburn University, whom he led to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1984.
Although Harris’s coaching career began at the junior high level in Johnson City, it is his Indiana roots he credits for his long-standing love of basketball.
“I thank God for my being born in Indiana,” he said. “[Where] the love of basketball came to me organically.”
While coaching in his home state, he saw the most success as head coach at Earlham College in Richmond. A division familiar to Milligan, he was a finalist for the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) coach of the year after the 1967-68 season, where the Earlham Quakers posted a 25-3 record.
His legacy in basketball goes beyond just himself as a coach. During his time in Los Angeles, he watched young players grow into NBA royalty, including the late Kobe Bryant. He was Bryant’s first coach in the NBA.
Harris wasn’t the only Buffalo in Springfield, Massachusetts Saturday evening.
President Bill Greer and his wife Edwina, men’s basketball coach Bill Robinson, women’s basketball coach Kylie Greer, former Milligan coach Phil Worrell, Milligan Trustee Dale Clayton, former women’s basketball coach and current campus minister Rich Aubrey, and Athletic Director Christian Pope were all in attendance representing our black and orange.
President Bill Greer considered it an honor to be present as Harris was inducted.
“Del has distinguished himself as a successful coach at the highest levels,” he said. “He has been a positive influence on those around him, especially his players.”
While his on-court achievements tend to speak for themselves, Harris’s deep commitment to his faith and continual service to God is also something to be admired.
“We are proud to call Del Harris a Milligan Buffalo,” President Greer said.
Headline photo by the Dallas Mavericks