Bruce Hale
Indianapolis Jets Player-Coach | BAA Head Coach | Santa Clara Hall of Famer
Bruce Hale was born on August 30, 1918, in Medford, Oregon. He played college basketball at Santa Clara University before beginning his professional basketball career.
Hale joined the Indianapolis Jets for the 1948-1949 Basketball Association of America season and served as the team’s player-coach for part of the year.
He coached 17 games and finished with a 4-13 record before being traded to the Fort Wayne Pistons. Burl Friddle coached the Jets for the remainder of the season.
Coach Hale passed away on December 30, 1980, at the age of 62.
- Overall Coaching Record: 4-13
Coaching Career
Bruce Hale started the 1948-1949 season as player-coach of the Indianapolis Jets.
Hale coached 17 games and went 4-13 before his time with Indianapolis came to an end.
On December 19, 1948, the Jets traded Hale and John Mahnken to the Fort Wayne Pistons. Burl Friddle took over as head coach and went 14-29 for the remainder of the season.
Indianapolis finished with an 18-42 record, placed sixth in the Western Division, and missed the playoffs. The season became the only BAA season in Jets franchise history.
Notable Players Coached
- Ray Lumpp
- 1948 Olympic Gold Medalist
- George Glamack
- 2× Consensus First-Team All-American
- 2× Helms Foundation College Player of the Year (1940, 1941)