Former Earlham Coach Earns Lifetime Achievement Award

Del Harris

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The former head coach of the Earlham College men’s basketball team has been selected for a major honor. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will later this year present Del Harris with the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.

Earlham says the honor is considered the most prestigious award outside of being inducted into the hall of fame. Previous recipients include John Wooden, Red Auerbach and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Harris coached at Earlham from 1965 to 1974, leading the team to several conference and tournament titles. He is the winningest coach at Earlham with a record of 175-70.

"Del Harris is an outstanding coach and made a lasting impact on me as a student-athlete," said Earlham Interim President Avis Stewart, who played for Harris in the early 1970s. "He was focused not only on making us better players, but better people off the court as well. I’m thrilled that he continues to be recognized for his many contributions to the game of basketball."

After leaving Earlham, Harris went on to coach in the NBA, eventually becoming head coach of the Houston Rockets where the team went to the NBA Finals in 1981. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1995 when he served as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Harris currently serves as vice president of the Texas Legends, an affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA G-League.