• 2011-12 will mark Adler's fifth season as an assistant
coach at La Salle and eighth overall with the program.
He assists in all facets of the program, including recruiting,
scouting and player development.
• Adler arrived at La Salle after spending two seasons as an
assistant coach at Penn under the tutelage of current Temple head
coach Fran Dunphy.
• He has also gained national recognition coaching
overseas during four of the past six summers. In 2007, Adler
served as the head coach for Maccabi USA team in the European
Maccabi Games in Rome, Italy. He led the USA squad to a bronze
medal.
Diary Series: Harris Adler, Asst. Coach - La Salle ("Thanksgiving and The Palestra")
College basketball season is back, and it's already been an exciting start for our team. We are the ninth youngest team in Division I and we have showed our youth a couple of times early in the season. With late leads at Villanova and Pittsburgh, two of the toughest places to win non-conference games in all of college basketball (a combined one non-conference home loss in last three years), we made some youthful mistakes, but learned some very positive lessons heading into the future.
After starting the season 2-2, we competed in the Hoop Group Classic at the cathedral of college basketball, The Palestra. Growing up in Philadelphia, my dad used to take me to see Big Five doubleheaders, and I always remember being in awe of the Palestra’s rafters, the classic battles played there, and the hall of fame coaches that stalked its floor. So when I was fortunate to serve as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania for two years (before my time at La Salle), it was a special feeling every day stepping on the floor for practice. There is something about the Palestra experience that defies explanation, but when you walk in the front door and read the plaque that resides there – “To play the game is great; to win the game is greater; but to love the game is the greatest of all” – it just all makes sense.
Since I joined the La Salle staff eight years ago, we have played two-to-three games a year in the Palestra, and I still get that special feeling every time I go back. So this Thanksgiving was extra special for me when we once again returned there to play Robert Morris and Rider. It is always a special feeling to see the new freshmen walk into the building for the first time, to take them around its hallowed halls, to watch them absorb its rich history.
The first game of the weekend against Robert Morris had an extra special meaning for me personally as the head coach at Robert Morris is Andy Toole, who I had the privilege of coaching at Penn for one year. I always knew Andy would be a great coach because while I was at Penn he was a great point guard, team leader, and an extra coach on the floor. Both teams played a hard fought defensive battle. Unfortunately we lost, but it was great to see a former player now coaching and having great success. The next night we rebounded and beat a very good, athletic, and talented Rider team to improve our record to 3-3. After Thanksgiving weekend at the Palestra, I once again reflected on how fortunate I am to coach at this historic arena. Every college basketball fan should try and experience a game there once in their lifetime.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and enjoys the holiday season. I look forward to seeing all the La Salle fans pack the Gola Arena for three very important non-conference home games over the next two weeks.
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