Former Oregon basketball coach Dick Harter, right, who coached Oregon...

Former Oregon basketball coach Dick Harter, right, who coached Oregon from 1971-78, is honored as an honorary captain prior to an NCAA basketball game against Washington. (March 4, 2010) Credit: AP

INDIANAPOLIS -- Dick Harter, a veteran NBA assistant who also led Penn to two NCAA Tournament appearances and was the Oregon coach when the Ducks ended UCLA's 98-game home winning streak, has died at the age of 81.

A spokesman for the Island Funeral Home in Hilton Head, S.C., said Tuesday that Harter died Monday night at a community hospital. The cause of death wasn't immediately released, and funeral arrangements were pending.

Harter was the Charlotte Hornets' first head coach. He was also an assistant with the Indiana Pacers three times before retiring in 2010. He was the defensive coach under Larry Bird when the Pacers reached the NBA Finals in 2000. Before that, he assisted Chuck Daly in Detroit, Pat Riley with the Knicks and P.J. Carlesimo in Portland.

Through more than half a century, the man former Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh respectfully referred to as a "sarge" never lost the ability to connect with young players.

"He was a great coach, really a defensive-minded coach, and he taught us a lot," Pacers forward Danny Granger said in a statement from the team. "He was a tough coach, but a great guy to be around."

From current players to retired stars, the respect poured out.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to the Harter family," former Pacers guard Reggie Miller said. "It was an honor to be coached on two separate occasions by one of the best defensive minds the NBA has seen."

Harter coached at Rider, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Penn State, compiling a college record of 295-196 and two Ivy League championships with the Quakers.

In 1976, Harter led his Oregon team to UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, where the Bruins hadn't dropped a game since 1970. Oregon won 65-45, making good on Harter's pledge to take on John Wooden's intimidating squad.

"You talk about people leaving footprints. He left his footprints," said Ernie Kent, an Oregon player who went on to coach the Ducks from 1997-2010.

Bird remembered his assistant fondly.

"Obviously, it's tough, but I had a lot of great times with Dick," Bird said. "Bringing him in here to help me when I coached was great, not only for me, but for the team and the franchise . . . He was very good at what he did."

FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.  Credit: Newsday/File Footage; Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steven Day, Bebeto Matthews; Getty Images

'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.  Credit: Newsday/File Footage; Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steven Day, Bebeto Matthews; Getty Images

'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

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