Charley Shipp
Waterloo Hawks Player-Coach | NBA Player & Coach | Catholic University Basketball Player
Charley Shipp was born on December 3, 1913, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He played college basketball at Catholic University before later joining the Waterloo Hawks as a player and coach.
Shipp was hired as head coach of the Hawks before the 1949-1950 NBA season. He coached 35 games and finished with an 8-27 record while also appearing in 23 games as a player.
The Waterloo coaching job became Shipp’s only head coaching position in the BAA or NBA.
Coach Shipp passed away on March 21, 1988, at the age of 74.
- Overall Coaching Record: 8-27
Coaching Career
Charley Shipp was hired as head coach of the Waterloo Hawks on August 3, 1949, as the franchise prepared for its first NBA season.
Shipp coached 35 games and went 8-27 before he was replaced by Jack Smiley. Smiley went 11-16 over the final 27 games.
Waterloo finished with a 19-43 record, placed fifth in the Western Division, and missed the playoffs. The Hawks left the NBA after the season.
Shipp also appeared in 23 games as a player during the season, making him one of the early player-coaches in league history.
Notable Players Coached
- Dick Mehen
- Led the Waterloo Hawks with 14.4 points per game in 1949-1950
- Johnny Orr
- Future Michigan and Iowa State head coach
- Led Michigan to the 1976 NCAA Championship Game