Following up from an item in yesterday’s Daily Dirt…
Harris Adler, who coached under Bruce Pearl for the 2009 gold medal winning Maccabi USA Team, has been named an assistant coach at Auburn, Pearl announced on Tuesday.
"Harris and I have won gold together," Pearl said. "I believe he has an eye for talent, truly cares about student-athlete welfare and understands firsthand how we want things done. As Dr. John Giannini’s assistant coach, Harris worked in all areas making him, in my mind, the best fit for our staff here at Auburn."
Adler has spent the past 10 seasons at La Salle under Giannini, managing recruiting, scouting, scheduling and academic progress for the Explorers.
"I am humbled and excited to be joining Coach Pearl’s staff and the Auburn family," Adler said. "I have long admired Coach Pearl, and I look forward to helping him to continue building his legacy of basketball excellence. For the last 10 years, I have been very fortunate to coach alongside Dr. John Giannini at La Salle University, helping to rebuild a storied basketball program and taking our team to the Sweet 16 in 2013. I am truly excited to work closely with Coach Pearl and the rest of the staff to lead Auburn basketball to new heights. I have every confidence that we will add to the unmatched history and tradition of greatness that already distinguish Auburn athletics. "
Adler was an instrumental part of La Salle’s run to the 2013 Sweet 16 when the team defeated Boise State, Kansas State and Ole Miss during the tournament run. The team also recorded wins over No. 9 Butler, No. 16 VCU and No. 12 Kansas State, finishing third in the Atlantic 10 with 24 wins.
Adler was also a key component to the 2011-12 season in which La Salle won 21 games and reached the NIT, the first postseason appearance for the program in 20 years. The 21 wins were also the team’s most since 1990.
Adler played a key role in recruiting nine all-Atlantic 10 players, five Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selections and two Atlantic 10 Student-Athletes of the Year. Two student-athletes received Academic or Scholar All-America recognition.
Prior to La Salle, Adler served for two years as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania under Fran Dunphy. At UPenn, Adler helped the program to an Ivy League Championship and a NCAA Tournament bid in 2003. During his two seasons at UPenn the program went 39-16 (.709). He assisted in the team’s recruiting and scouting and also served as the head coach of the UPenn junior varsity squad, compiling a record of 21-7 (.750).
Previously, Adler was an assistant coach at Centenary College (2001-02), helping the team achieve its first winning season in eight years. He began his basketball coaching career as a graduate assistant at Rowan University (1999-01), where he was part of a coaching staff that led the team to the Division III Sweet 16.
Adler has also gained international head coaching experience leading Maccabi USA teams. He served as the head coach for the Maccabi USA team in the European Maccabi Games in Rome in 2007, leading the team to a bronze medal. In 2006 he led the Maccabi USA Team to a gold medal at the inaugural Australia International Maccabi Games in Sydney with a perfect 7-0 record. He was also an assistant coach alongside Pearl for the gold medal-winning Maccabi USA team at the 18th Maccabiah Games in 2009 and the bronze medal-winning Maccabi USA team in 2005.
Adler holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from Rowan University and a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. He is also a licensed pharmacist.
Adler is the fifth member to join Pearl’s staff at Auburn, joining Tony Jones, Chuck Person, Steven Pearl and Todd Golden.
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