Harter, former Pacers Assistant Coach, dies at 81

March 13, 2012

Dick Harter, former Pacers assistant coach, died of cancer Monday night at his home in Hilton Head, S.C. He was 81.

Harter served as a Pacers assistant coach under Hall of Fame coach Jack Ramsey, as well on both Larry Bird and Jim O'Brien's coaching staffs.

He also served with Chuck Daly at Detroit, Pat Riley with the New York Knicks and P.J. Carlesimo in Portland. In 1988, Harter became the first head coach of the expansion Charlotte Hornets and was with the team until 1990.

Prior to entering the NBA in 1983 with Daly and the Pistons, Harter was the head coach at Rider (N.J.) University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oregon.

Harter is a member of the Big Five Hall of Fame in Philadelphia, the University of Oregon Hall of Fame and the State of Pennsylvania (Pottstown Chapter) Hall of Fame.

Reactions from around the league: