Harold Hunter (basketball)

Harold Hunter
Personal information
Born(1926-04-30)April 30, 1926
Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
DiedMarch 7, 2013(2013-03-07) (aged 86)
Hendersonville, Tennessee, U.S.
Career information
High schoolSumner (Kansas City, Kansas)
CollegeNorth Carolina Central
NBA draft1950: 10th round
Drafted byWashington Capitols
PositionGuard
Coaching career1950–1991
Career history
As a coach:
1950–1951Williston School
1952–1954P. S. Jones HS
1954–1957Williston School
1957–1959Tennessee State (assistant)
1959–1968Tennessee State
1974–1977Xavier (LA)
1980sDillard (assistant)
1986–1991Southern
Career highlights

Harold Hunter Sr. (April 30, 1926 – March 7, 2013) was an American basketball coach and player. He became the first African American to sign a professional contract with a National Basketball Association (NBA) team when he joined the Washington Capitols on April 26, 1950. Hunter was cut from the team during training camp and never played for an NBA team. He later coached basketball for the United States men's national basketball team, Tennessee State University, and the U.S. Olympic basketball team.