Dick Harp

Age: 81

former player, assistant coach and head coach for the University of Kansas men's basketball team; took over for Phog Allen in 1956; had a 121-82 career record over eight seasons; won two conference titles and made two NCAA tournament appearances; one of a handful of men to appear as a player and a head coach in an NCAA championship game and the only one to do it with the same team; coached a Wilt Chamberlain-led Jayhawks team to one of the tournaments most famous final games (a triple-overtime loss to UNC in 1957); mentor to longtime Kansas coach Roy Williams. The cause of his death was not given.

Died: Lawrence, Kan., Mar. 18, 2000

Dick Harp became the Kansas Jayhawks' fourth men's basketball coach in 1957. He coached for eight years until 1964. Harp's overall Kansas record was 121-82 (.596) and conference record was 53-45 (.583).

After gaining a wealth of knowledge as Phog Allen's understudy, Harp became the Kansas Jayhawks' head coach himself from 1956-1964. Harp compiled a 121-82 record in those eight seasons and led the Jayhawks to two conference titles (one Big Seven, one Big Eight Conference) and two NCAA tournament berths. In 1957, the Jayhawks captured the Midwest Regional and made it to the finals, only to be stopped by the University of North Carolina in a memorable 54-53 loss in triple overtime in Kansas City, Mo. Under his guidance, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Bridges achieved All-Americal status.

Harp had served as Phog Allen's assistant for eight seasons before taking over for Allen in 1956. Prior to that Harp was head coach for two seasons at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. Harp played basketball at KU, lettering from 1938-1940 and was one of the starting guards on the 1940 team that lost to Indiana University in the NCAA finals. Harp served as the director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for 13 years after leaving the Jayhawks. Harp is one of only five people to have played and coached in an NCAA title game. He served as an assistant coach at North Carolina for Dean Smith from 1986-1989.

Coach Harp lived in Lawrence, Kansas until his death in March 2000.

Harp's health had been failing for several years and he had recently fractured a hip. He died at his residence at Lawrence's Presbyterian Manor. He was survived by his wife of 56 years, Martha Sue, and a son, Richard

Richard Harp
Richard "Dick" Harp died March 18 at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. He was 81.
After serving as assistant basketball coach for the legendary F.C. "Phog" Allen, Harp was KU's head men's basketball coach from 1956 to 1964. During that time, he coached Wilt Chamberlain and led the team to two conference titles and two NCAA Tournament berths.
A graduate of Rosedale High School in Kansas City, Mo., Harp came to KU in 1936 to attend school and play basketball. Before his graduation in 1940, he was a starter, star and captain of the team.
Harp served in the U.S. Army during World War II and married Martha Sue Layne in 1944 in Heavener, Okla. She survives of the home.
He was head coach at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., before joining Allen at KU in 1948 as head assistant and freshman coach. After Allen's mandatory retirement in 1956, Harp succeeded him.
After leaving KU, Harp served as executive vice president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes from 1964 to 1983. In 1986, he went to Chapel Hill, N.C., to serve as an assistant to University of North Carolina coach Dean Smith, one of his former players in the early 1950s. He moved back to Lawrence in 1990.
Other survivors include a son, Richard, Las Vegas; and four grandchildren.

Dick Harp, a former Kansas University three-year starter and senior captain, who grew up in the Rosedale district of Kansas City, Kansas served as Allen's assistant for nearly 8 years. One day, prior to Allen's retirement, Harp was going through the morning mail and noticed a letter to his boss. It had the letters F.C.A. stamped on the upper left-hand side of the envelope. Harp did not know about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and kidded his boss by saying, "Hey, someone's using your name." Allen's full name was Forrest C. Allen. Even though the letter was for Coach Allen, it was an important one for Dick Harp and the FCA. It contained a speaking engagement opportunity at a citywide event in Nashville, Tennessee. Allen, who attended the very first FCA camp held in Estes Park, Colorado in 1956, asked Harp to take his place. Harp seized the opportunity and this was the start of a meaningful FCA career for Dick Harp. Harp succeeded Allen as head coach at KU and had some great teams. One player you will especially remember was Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain. Another is Bob Billings, who played on that team and attended an FCA camp in 1957. Later, Harp served as the Executive Vice President of FCA for 19 years, retiring in 1983. He was a great man who loved God and loved FCA. Dick was the person who oversaw the construction of the initial FCA building structure which is now 27 years old. He passed away to be with the Lord on March 18, 2000. His wife still resides in Lawrence, Kansas.