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Harry Litwack

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harry Litwack
Litwack during the 1964–65 season.
Biographical details
Born(1907-09-20)September 20, 1907
Galicia, Austria-Hungary (modern-day Poland)
DiedAugust 7, 1999(1999-08-07) (aged 91)
Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1927–1930Temple
1930–1936Philadelphia Sphas
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1948–1951Philadelphia Warriors (assistant)
1952–1973Temple
Head coaching record
Overall373–193
Tournaments7–6 (NCAA)
9–6 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 NCAA Regional – Final Four (1956, 1958)
NIT (1969)
4 MAC (1964, 1967, 1969, 1972)
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1976 (profile)

Harold "Chief" Litwack (September 20, 1907 – August 7, 1999) was an American college basketball coach. He served as head basketball coach at Temple University from 1952 to 1973, compiling a record of 373–193. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973.

Coaching career

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Litwack was born in Galicia, Austria-Hungary (modern-day Poland) but raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Temple in 1930. He began his coaching career at Simon Gratz High School (1930–31), then he became head coach of the freshman team at Temple. Meanwhile, he was playing pro basketball with Eddie Gottlieb's all-Jewish Philadelphia Sphas, from 1930 to 1936. Before he became head coach at Temple in 1952, he also served briefly as assistant coach for the Philadelphia Warriors (1948–51). He died at the age of 91 in 1999.[1]

He coached Team USA's gold medal-winning team at the 1957 Maccabiah Games in Israel, and its silver medal-winning team at the 1973 Maccabiah Games.[2][3]

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Temple Owls (Independent) (1952–1958)
1952–53 Temple 16–10
1953–54 Temple 15–12
1954–55 Temple 11–10
1955–56 Temple 27–4 NCAA Third Place
1956–57 Temple 20–9 NIT Third Place
1957–58 Temple 27–3 NCAA University Division Third Place
Temple Owls (Middle Atlantic Conference) (1958–1973)
1958–59 Temple 6–19 4–7 9th
1959–60 Temple 17–9 9–2 3rd NIT First Round
1960–61 Temple 20–8 9–1 2nd NIT Quarterfinals
1961–62 Temple 18–9 8–2 2nd NIT Quarterfinals
1962–63 Temple 15–7 6–3 4th
1963–64 Temple 17–8 6–1 1st NCAA University Division first round
1964–65 Temple 14–10 4–3 4th
1965–66 Temple 21–7 5–3 4th NIT Quarterfinals
1966–67 Temple 20–8 7–0 1st NCAA University Division first round
1967–68 Temple 19–9 5–3 4th NIT First Round
1968–69 Temple 22–8 6–1 1st NIT Champions
1969–70 Temple 15–13 6–2 T–3rd (Eastern) NCAA University Division first round
1970–71 Temple 13–12 3–3 4th (Eastern)
1971–72 Temple 23–8 5–0 1st (Eastern) NCAA University Division first round
1972–73 Temple 17–10 4–1 2nd (Eastern)
Temple: 373–193 87–32
Total: 373–193

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Goldstein, Richard (9 August 1999). "Harry Litwack, 91, Dies; Basketball Coach". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Americans Capture Basketball Title at Maccabiah Games; U. S. FIVE DOWNS ISRAELS, 79 TO 62 Wins Championship for Third Straight Time--Israel Takes Swim Crown American Bid Fails New Yorker Fifth". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Blaustein, Esther (5 July 1981). "Sports; COACH SET FOR ISRAELI GAMES". The New York Times.