Ollie Harris introduced
basketball to the South American nation of Chile, although he was
best known for his prowess in football, having played fullback at
New Brighton High, the University of Pittsburgh, and Geneva College, and coached at Temple University
in Philadelphia. Ollie starred in football at New Brighton High from 1919 to
1921, earning All County honors, then played one season at Pitt
under Coach Pop Warner and another for Coach Jock Sutherland where
he shared fullback duties with All American Andy Gustafson.
Ollie left Pitt to play at Geneva College under Coach
Bo McMillin
on the famous 1926 team that upset Harvard 16-7 and lost a 6-0
thriller to Cornell. After Geneva, Ollie moved to Temple to study
podiatry and serve as a football assistant to Coach Bert Bell.
During World War II, Ollie was a physical instructor for the Air Corps
flight trainees. He went to Chile as a military attaché and
introduced basketball to the country, a service that earned him the
Chilean Commendation Medal. Ollie and died in 1971 at age 68.
Ollie Harris introduced
basketball to the South American nation of Chile, although he was
best known for his prowess in football, having played fullback at
New Brighton High, the University of Pittsburgh, and Geneva College, and coached at Temple University
in Philadelphia. Ollie starred in football at New Brighton High from 1919 to
1921, earning All County honors, then played one season at Pitt
under Coach Pop Warner and another for Coach Jock Sutherland where
he shared fullback duties with All American Andy Gustafson.
Ollie left Pitt to play at Geneva College under Coach