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Behind the CoachingHonoring the Impact of Sports Coaching
Coach Profile

Harry Gallatin

Harry Gallatin

1963 NBA Coach of the Year | St. Louis Hawks and New York Knicks Head Coach | Hall of Fame Player

Harry Junior Gallatin was born on April 26, 1927, in Roxana, Illinois. Known as “The Horse,” he played most of his NBA career for the New York Knicks before turning to coaching.

Gallatin became head coach of the St. Louis Hawks in 1962. He won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 1963 after guiding the Hawks to 48 regular-season victories and the Western Division finals.

He later returned to the Knicks as head coach. Across the Hawks and Knicks he posted a 136-120 NBA regular-season record; his coaching career is distinct from his 1991 Basketball Hall of Fame induction as a player.

Gallatin died on October 7, 2015, at age 88.

  • Overall Coaching Record: 136-120

Coaching Career

Gallatin began his NBA head-coaching career with the Hawks in 1962-1963. St. Louis finished 48-32 and reached the Western Division finals, earning him the NBA Coach of the Year award.

The Hawks followed with a 46-34 regular season in 1963-1964 and another trip to the division finals. Gallatin went 17-16 through 33 games of 1964-1965 before being dismissed on December 27, 1964.

His St. Louis head-coaching total was 111-82, with a 12-11 playoff record across two postseason appearances.

Notable Players Coached

Gallatin was appointed head coach in January 1965, following Eddie Donovan’s reassignment to the front office.

New York went 19-23 in Gallatin’s final 42 games of 1964-1965. He returned the following season but opened 6-15 before being replaced in November 1965.

The Knicks portion of his coaching record was 25-38; together with St. Louis, his NBA record finished at 136-120.

Notable Players Coached

  • Willis Reed
    • Hall of Fame center; future two-time Finals MVP
  • Johnny Green
    • Four-time NBA All-Star forward
  • Art Heyman
    • 1963 first overall NBA draft pick and Knicks forward