Harold Hunter Sr.
(April 30, 1926 – March 7, 2013)
Trailblazing Basketball Figure
Early Life:
- Harold Hunter Sr. was born on April 30, 1926, in Kansas City, Kansas.
- He graduated from Sumner High School, which was the last remaining all-black high school in the city at the time.
- Hunter’s remarkable basketball talent became a focal point in the history of Sumner High School, inspiring a book titled “The Sumner Story” published by alumni.
College Success:
- Hunter played as a guard for North Carolina College, now known as North Carolina Central University.
- He played a pivotal role in North Carolina Central’s victory at the 1950 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament, where he was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
- In recognition of his accomplishments, he was inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.
- Additionally, the university honored him by retiring his basketball jersey in 2009 as part of its centennial celebration.
- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 1987.
NBA Pioneering Attempt:
- In the 1950 NBA draft, Hunter was selected in the 10th round by the Washington Capitols.
- On April 26, 1950, Hunter made history by becoming the first African American to sign a contract with an NBA team when he joined the Washington Capitols.
- Unfortunately, he was cut from the team during the training camp, preventing him from playing professionally in the NBA.
Coaching Career:
- Harold Hunter embarked on a coaching journey after his playing career.
- He coached basketball teams at various schools, including Williston School in Wilmington, North Carolina, and P. S. Jones High School in Washington, North Carolina.
- Hunter assumed the role of assistant coach for the Tigers basketball team and eventually became the head coach at Tennessee State University in 1959.
- During his nine-year tenure, he achieved remarkable success with a 172–67 winning record, including several winning streaks of over twenty games.
- Hunter’s coaching prowess led to seventeen of his Tennessee State players being drafted into the NBA, solidifying his legacy as the second-winningest men’s basketball coach in the university’s history.
- In 1968, he made history once again by becoming the first African American to coach the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team, guiding them to a significant victory over the Soviet national basketball team.
- Hunter also became the first African American to coach both men’s and women’s teams to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national basketball tournament.
Later Coaching Roles and Retirement:
- Hunter continued his coaching career at Xavier University of Louisiana and Dillard University’s women’s team.
- He was known for encouraging his players to engage in charitable activities, such as repainting university buildings and participating in benefit games.
- After retiring from coaching, Harold Hunter Sr. and his wife, Jacqueline, resided in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina forced them to relocate to Tennessee in 2005.
- His contributions to the history of basketball were highlighted in the 2008 ESPN documentary, “Black Magic,” which focused on pioneering basketball players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States.
- Harold Hunter Sr. passed away at the age of 86 on March 7, 2013, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline T. Hunter, daughter Micki, and son Harold Jr.
Harold Hunter Sr. remains an iconic figure in the history of basketball, known for his groundbreaking achievements both on and off the court.