Harry Litwack

Teams coached: Temple Owls
Temple record: 373-193 (.659)
Overall record: 373-193 (.659)

Harold Litwack
Born September 20, 1907
Died August 7, 1999
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Alma Mater: Temple University (BA, 1930)
Born in Poland, Litwack’s family moved to the USA when he was five; raised in Philadelphia
Attended Southern HS and then played at Temple under head coach James Usilton
Spent one year as the head coach at Simon Gratz HS in Philadelphia before returning to Temple in 1931 to be the head coach of the freshmen team
- Coached the freshmen team at Temple for twenty years, also working as an assistant with the varsity team
  - While Litwack coached the freshmen, the Temple varsity team was coached by Usilton, Ernest Messikomer and Josh Cody
- Also played for the Philadelphia Sphas, Eddie Gottlieb’s all-Jewish professional team, from 1929-1936
- Spent three seasons as an assistant with the Philadelphia Warriors (now Golden State Warriors) in the NBA, with Gottlieb as head coach
Took over as the Temple varsity head coach in 1952, coaching the Owls for the next 21 seasons
- Won 373 games during that tenure, reaching six NCAA Tournaments (with two Final Fours) and six NITs (winning the 1969 NIT title)
- Finished his coaching career with a 7-6 NCAA record and 9-6 NIT record, 16-12 (.571) overall
Operated a summer basketball camp in the Poconos with Bill E. Foster for 25 years
- Met Foster early in his coaching career, as his daughter was in Foster’s class at Abington Senior HS (PA)