April 27, 1998
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Seven of the top Division I male basketball coaches in the country have been named finalists for the prestigious Clair Bee Award to be presented this year by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, honoring the active Division I basketball coach who has made the most significant positive contributions to his sport during the preceding year.
The winner should reflect the character and professional qualities of Clair Bee, a Hall of Fame coach who many consider to be the best technical basketball coach in history, and a man who cared deeply about his players' well-being.
Now in its second year, the Clair Bee Award will be presented in conjunction with the Basketball Hall of Fame's collegiate Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, May 16 in Springfield, birthplace of basketball. Clair Bee Award finalists will be judged on the following criteria: Obstacles overcome by the coach or his team that served to inspire others, outstanding character traits built into team, innovations or strategy impacting the game, delicate handling of a crisis situation with integrity and grace, excellence in coaching that caused the team to overachieve, excellence in academic performance by the team, positive impact in local community or national public service, upholding a standard of personal integrity within and outside the sport.
The seven 1997-98 Clair Bee Award Finalists are:
John Beilein of Richmond University who led the Spiders to an upset of
number three-seed South Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The late Jack Bruen of Colgate who passed away in December after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Bruen coached Colgate to its first two ever NCAA Tournaments in 1995 and 1996.
Rob Evans, formerly of Mississippi (now at Arizona State) who in six seasons resurrected the Rebels program and guided Ole Miss to consecutive NCAA appearances in 1997 and 1998.
Bob McKillup of Davidson who in nine seasons methodically rebuilt the Wildcats program and has a near perfect graduation rate.
Mike Montgomery of Stanford who this past season led the Cardinal to its first Final Four since 1942.
Jim Phelan of Mount St. Mary's who in 44 years has won 785 career games, placing him fourth all-time and first among active coaches.
Charlie Spoonhour of Saint Louis who in six seasons, has led the Billikens to four post-season tournaments, including three NCAA's.
Last year's inaugural winner was Minnesota's Clem Haskins. A similar award for players, the Chip Hilton Award, won last year by Tim Duncan of Wake Forest, will also be presented at the Awards Dinner.
The two awards were created by Chip Hilton Sports and the NCAA Foundation in 1996 as a way to promote positive character in the sport of basketball, a game the legendary Bee impacted greatly as a coach, administrator, innovator and teacher. Bee was elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1967 as a contributor. Today, his career coaching mark still remains the highest winning percentage in the history of college basketball.