Dec. 28, 1964 - Richie Guerin (left with K.C. Jones of the Celtics) was named player-coach of the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA today, replacing Harry Gallatin, who was dismissed in his third season in charge. The 37‐year‐old Gallatin will remain with the team, probably as a scout, until his contract expires next May.
Both are former stars with the New York Knicks.
Gallatin and the Hawks had arrived at the airport from New York when the club’s general manager, Marty Blake, told Gallatin he had been relieved. The 32‐year‐old Guerin, who has been sidelined by a knee injury, received the news of his appointment from Hawks owner Ben Kerner at about the same time.
Kerner said Guerin would handle the team until the end of the season.
Guerin and Dave DeBusschere of Detroit are the only playing coaches in the NBA. Guerin had been averaging 13.4 points a game until his injury. He had appeared in 24 games.
The former Iona College star has been out of action since he was injured in a game against Los Angeles in San Francisco Dec. 8.
Guerin is expected to have Bob Pettit ready for duty tomorrow night against San Francisco. Pettit has been out with a back injury since Dec. 10. Guerin is awaiting approval from the team physician, Dr. Stan London, for his own return to action.
“I feel we still have an excellent chance to win the division, barring any more injuries,” the new coach said. “We have a good club — that much is obvious — but there are certain changes we will have to make according to game situations. I would not like to comment on any ideas I may have.”
The Hawks are in second place in the Western Division.
Gallatin said he didn’t know whether he would seek another coaching job in the league or a college coaching post. He joined the Hawks in 1962 after four years as coach at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Ill.
Gallatin said he had a master’s degree from the University of Iowa, “and I can go back to teaching and coaching on the university level or accept another job in another capacity.”
He had a regular‐season record with the Hawks of 111-82. His postseason mark was 12-11.
Gallatin said a coach has a “reasonable amount of security” in the NBA, “but when you accept a position like this you have to accept other things that go along with it. Of course, tenure isn’t one of those things.”
Gallatin was the eighth Hawks’ coach since 1955. The others were Red Holzman, Slater Martin, Alec Hannum, Andy Phillip, Ed Macauley, Paul Seymour, and Fuzzy Levane.
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