Dr. Dick Barnett Biography
Born in Gary, Indiana in 1936, Dick Barnett’s dream began with a ping-pong ball and a tin cup at the Campbell Friendship House. Soon thereafter he was introduced to the game of basketball and became an All-State player at Roosevelt High School. In 1955, he led his team to the first game in Indiana basketball history where two all black teams met for the state basketball championship. Led by the great Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School went on to win that championship game but history was made and racial barriers were broke down.
Shortly thereafter, Barnett was discovered and recruited on the courts of Gary, IN by Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Coach John B. McLendon to come play for him at Tennessee A&I. Three consecutive National Championships later, Barnett went on to play an illustrious fourteen year career as an NBA All-Star and two-time champion with the New York Knicks. He then retired from the NBA in 1974 and was Assistant Coach under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Red Holzman.
- Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
- NCAA Hall of Fame
- Small College Basketball Hall of Fame
- NAIA Hall of Fame
- Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
- Tennessee Basketball Hall of Fame
- Jersey #12 is immortalized in the Madison Square Garden rafters
- Six-time Champion
EXPERIENCE
2020-Present Founder and President of the Dr. Richard Barnett Foundation.
2008-2019 President of SportScope, Center for the Research and Study of athletes and sports in American society.
2003-2007 Assistant Professor at St. John’s University in the Sport Management discipline as part of the College of Professional Studies. Focus on marketing, media, advertising, and promotion
2003 Special consultant to Project Renewal. A non profit organization with a focus on rehabilitating homeless and substance abuse victims
1997-2000 National Motivational Speaker. A series of lectures with education and dreams as the vortex of the presentations to high schools, community centers, and college students
1995-1996 Consultant to major corporations; i.e. Pepsi Cola, Dreyfus, New York Life, Madison Sq. Garden, National Football League and IBM. Providing access to professional athletes and the athletic environment
1992-1995 Minority education consultant to the Dean of Education at Fordham University concentrating on recruitment and retention of minority students in the program
1992 Adjunct Professor at Baruch College in multicultural urban education
1977- 1990 President of ARM, the Athletic Role Model Educational Institute, utilizing professional athletes and other positive role models to impact the social and cognitive behavior of at risk youth
1974-1976 Assistant coach with the New York Knickerbockers under legendary Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Red Holzman.
1959-1974 Professional athlete with the Syracuse Nationals, Cleveland Pipers, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knickerbockers.
EDUCATION
Tennessee State University/Cal Poly Pomona – BS Degree in Physical Education
New York University – Masters in Public Administration
Fordham University – Doctoral in Education Adm. & Supervision.
