Harry Litwack

Harold "Chief" Litwack


Born:
September 20, 1907
Lviv (Lemberg), Galicia *

Died:
August 7, 1999
Huntingdon Valley, PA


Career
1925-26 Southern High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1926-27 Temple University (College)
1926-27 Philadelphia Hakoahs (EBL)
1927-28 Temple University (College)
1928-29 Temple University (College)
1929-30 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1930-31 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1930-31 Simon Graz High School - Philadelphia (High School) Head coach
1931-32 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1931-32 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1932-33 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1932-33 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1933-34 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1933-34 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1934-35 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1934-35 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1935-36 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1935-36 Atlantic City (EBL)
1935-36 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1936-37 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1937-38 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1938-39 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1939-40 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1940-41 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1941-42 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1942-43 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1943-44 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1944-45 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1945-46 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1946-47 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1948-49 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1948-49 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Assistant coach
1949-50 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1949-50 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach
1950-51 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach
1950-51 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1951-52 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach 
1952-53 Temple University (College) Head coach
1953-54 Temple University (College) Head coach
1954-55 Temple University (College) Head coach
1955-56 Temple University (College) Head coach
1956-57 Temple University (College) Head coach
1957-58 Temple University (College) Head coach
1958-59 Temple University (College) Head coach
1959-60 Temple University (College) Head coach
1960-61 Temple University (College) Head coach
1961-62 Temple University (College) Head coach
1962-63 Temple University (College) Head coach
1963-64 Temple University (College) Head coach
1964-65 Temple University (College) Head coach
1965-66 Temple University (College) Head coach
1966-67 Temple University (College) Head coach
1967-68 Temple University (College) Head coach
1968-69 Temple University (College) Head coach
1969-70 Temple University (College) Head coach
1970-71 Temple University (College) Head coach
1971-72 Temple University (College) Head coach
1972-73 Temple University (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1976

* (in 1907, Galicia was a kingdom in Eastern Europe that had been part of Austria-Hungary after being part of Poland. After World War 2, it became part of the Soviet Union, and now is in the Ukraine. Litwack and family considered themselves Polish)

Litwack was born in Eastern Europe but his family moved to the USA in 1912 and settled in Philadelphia. Yiddish was the only language spoken by the family, so Litwack had to learn not only assimilation into his new country but also a new language. On the basketball court is where he would excel. He played at Southern HS in Philly before playing at Temple. His leadership skills showed at Temple, and aside from signing with the Philadelphia SPHA's to play basketball for some years, he also would become a coach first at the high school level, and then back at Temple. He coached the freshmen team through World War 2 and was eventually hired to be the head coach for the SPHA's. He would work as an assistant for the BAA's Philadelphia Warriors, while still coaching at Temple. In 1952, Litwack was hired to be the head coach for Temple's men squad. In 21 seasons at the helm, he had a 373-193 record with 13 post-season appearances, an NIT championship and a Final Four appearance. He retired in 1973, and was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976. He also ran many youth basketball camps.

Source:
NY Times Obituary
Basketball Hall of Fame

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/harry-litwack/