Clair Bee
Baltimore Bullets Head Coach | Hall of Fame Coach | Basketball Innovator
Clair Bee was born on March 2, 1896, in Grafton, West Virginia. He became one of the most successful college basketball coaches of his era before moving into the NBA with the Baltimore Bullets.
Bee won NIT championships with Long Island University in 1939 and 1941 and was known for his work as a defensive strategist. He later coached parts of 2 NBA seasons with Baltimore.
Bee was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 1968.
Coach Bee passed away on May 20, 1983, at the age of 87.
- Overall Coaching Record: 32-107
Coaching Career
Clair Bee was hired as head coach of the Baltimore Bullets on November 12, 1952, replacing Chick Reiser after the team started the season 0-3.
Bee went 16-51 during the remainder of the 1952-1953 regular season. Baltimore reached the playoffs but was swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Division Semifinals.
The Bullets went 16-56 during the 1953-1954 season and missed the playoffs. Bee later resigned as head coach on November 19, 1954, finishing his NBA head coaching career with a 32-107 record.
Notable Players Coached
- Don Barksdale
- 1953 NBA All-Star
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor (2012)
- Ray Felix
- 1954 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1954 NBA All-Star