Black Bear Insider Podcast - Skip Chappelle
Published on 12/16/2024
Published on 12/16/2024
On this episode of the Black Bear Insider Podcast, we catch up with UMaine Sports Hall of Fame basketball coach and student-athlete, Skip Chappelle.
Chappelle, the only Black Bear to ever be selected as a Little All-American ('61), guided Maine to two of its most successful seasons in program history; 19-4 in 1959-60 and 18-5 in 1960-61. Chappelle, at one point a holder of 12 individual school records, led the Yankee Conference in scoring three consecutive seasons. Chappelle, who earned three first team All-Yankee Conference selections (1960-62), was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 11th round (89th overall) of the 1962 NBA Draft, becoming Maine's first-ever NBA draft pick. His #34 was retired by the University of Maine. Chappelle returned to Maine in 1968 as assistant varsity and head freshman basketball coach before taking over as head coach in 1971. He went on to serve 17 years at the helm of the program where he accumulated 217 wins, coached seven future NBA draft selections, and was named the ECAC North Coach of the Year in 1988.
On Nov. 24, 2024, the basketball court inside Memorial Gymnasium was officially unveiled as Skip Chappelle Court with future plans for the court's name to continue once the Black Bears move into Morse Arena, the future home of Maine basketball.
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