Clair Bee

Clair Francis Bee (March 2, 1896 in Grafton, West Virginia - May 20, 1983) was an American basketball coach who led the team at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York to two undefeated seasons in 1936 and 1939 as well as two National Invitation Tournament titles (1939, 1941).

Bee's teams won 95 percent of their games from 1931 to 1951, including 43 in a row from 1935 to 1937.^[1]

Clair Bee also coached the football team at LIU until it was disbanded in 1940.^[2]

His contributions to the game of basketball include the 1-3-1 zone defense, the three-second rule and the 24-second shot clock in the NBA.

Bee also authored a series of sports manuals and the fictional Chip Hilton series of books for children.

Bee was inducted into the Basketball Hall Of Fame in 1968. The Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award is awarded every year to a coach who makes an outstanding contribution to the game of college basketball, and the Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award is awarded to a men's basketball player.

In 1968, he cofounded the Kutsher's Sports Academy.^[3]

Clair Bee's grandfather was Ephraim Bee, a member of the First West Virginia Legislature.

[edit] References

v • d • e Rider Broncs Head Basketball Coaches

Bee • Frank • Donlon • Ellis • Leyden • Donlon • Leyden • Leach • Greenwood • Harter • Carpenter • Bannon • Harnum • Dempsey

v • d • e Long Island Blackbirds Head Basketball Coaches

Raubenheimer • Carroll • Bee • Wolfe • Bee • Lai • Rubin • Smalls • Lizzo • Haskins • Martin • Brown • Ferry

Preceded by Chick Reiser	Baltimore Bullets Head Coach 1952–1954	Succeeded by none

Persondata
NAME	Bee, Clair
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Bee, Clair Francis
SHORT DESCRIPTION	College basketball coach
DATE OF BIRTH	2 March 1896
PLACE OF BIRTH	Grafton, West Virginia, United States
DATE OF DEATH	20 May 1983
PLACE OF DEATH