McKillop Wins Coach Clair Bee Award
4/3/2008 8:46:44 AM | Men's Basketball
Marc Gignac
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Davidson men's basketball coach Bob McKillop has been named the 2008 recipient of the Coach Clair Bee Award, Chip Hilton Sports and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.
The award honors a Division I men's basketball coach who through his actions on and off the court, makes an outstanding contribution to the sport of college basketball. The awards ceremony will take place Monday morning (April 7) in San Antonio.
McKillop has guided his squad to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including the run to the Elite Eight this year. The stretch marked the first time Davidson had won an NCAA Tournament game and advanced to the regional final since 1969.
Davidson has recorded a 58-12 mark in the last two seasons, including a 25-game win streak in 2007-08. The Wildcats went undefeated in conference action for the third time under McKillop, posting a 20-0 mark, and have won 30 consecutive regular-season Southern Conference games.
In 12 of the last 13 seasons, McKillop's 'Cats have finished either first or second in their SoCon division. In that same period, he has led Davidson to five NCAA Tournaments, seven postseason bids, and seven 20-win seasons. He's been named the SoCon Coach of the Year seven times.
Joining McKillop as finalist for the award were Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Trent Johnson (Stanford University), Ernie Kent (University of Oregon) and Rick Stansbury (Mississippi State University).
The criteria for the Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award involves actions that inspire, motivate, coach and educate their teams to achieve their fullest potential and demonstrate outstanding character.
Chip Hilton Sports and the Basketball Hall of Fame began presenting the award in 1997 as a way to honor outstanding excellence and character in college basketball during the past season.
The Selection Committee is composed of: Dan Beebe, Jay Bilas, Dave Gavitt, Bob Hammel, Bob Knight, Pete Newell, Billy Packer, Dean Smith, and Dick Vitale.
Coach Clair F. Bee, the late Long Island University coach and Hall of Famer, compiled an .826 lifetime winning percentage, still the best in major-college coaching history. Known as the “Innovator”, Clair Bee's influence on the game also extended to strategies, (1-3-1 zone defense), (3-second rule), sports camps (Camp All-America), (Kutsher's Sports Academy), writing technical coaching books, and conducting coaching clinics around the world.
By the time he left coaching in the 1950s, Clair Bee had already begun writing the Chip Hilton Sports Series, which are considered the top sports fiction series ever written.
The award honors a Division I men's basketball coach who through his actions on and off the court, makes an outstanding contribution to the sport of college basketball. The awards ceremony will take place Monday morning (April 7) in San Antonio.
McKillop has guided his squad to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including the run to the Elite Eight this year. The stretch marked the first time Davidson had won an NCAA Tournament game and advanced to the regional final since 1969.
Davidson has recorded a 58-12 mark in the last two seasons, including a 25-game win streak in 2007-08. The Wildcats went undefeated in conference action for the third time under McKillop, posting a 20-0 mark, and have won 30 consecutive regular-season Southern Conference games.
In 12 of the last 13 seasons, McKillop's 'Cats have finished either first or second in their SoCon division. In that same period, he has led Davidson to five NCAA Tournaments, seven postseason bids, and seven 20-win seasons. He's been named the SoCon Coach of the Year seven times.
Joining McKillop as finalist for the award were Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Trent Johnson (Stanford University), Ernie Kent (University of Oregon) and Rick Stansbury (Mississippi State University).
The criteria for the Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award involves actions that inspire, motivate, coach and educate their teams to achieve their fullest potential and demonstrate outstanding character.
Chip Hilton Sports and the Basketball Hall of Fame began presenting the award in 1997 as a way to honor outstanding excellence and character in college basketball during the past season.
The Selection Committee is composed of: Dan Beebe, Jay Bilas, Dave Gavitt, Bob Hammel, Bob Knight, Pete Newell, Billy Packer, Dean Smith, and Dick Vitale.
Coach Clair F. Bee, the late Long Island University coach and Hall of Famer, compiled an .826 lifetime winning percentage, still the best in major-college coaching history. Known as the “Innovator”, Clair Bee's influence on the game also extended to strategies, (1-3-1 zone defense), (3-second rule), sports camps (Camp All-America), (Kutsher's Sports Academy), writing technical coaching books, and conducting coaching clinics around the world.
By the time he left coaching in the 1950s, Clair Bee had already begun writing the Chip Hilton Sports Series, which are considered the top sports fiction series ever written.
2026 Women's Lacrosse - Jane's Fund Game (Piper Harrell)
Saturday, April 11
2025-26 Swimming & Diving - Dylan Felt (NCAA Qualifier)
Wednesday, March 25
2026 Davidson Football Spring Zoom Call
Thursday, March 19
2025-26 Wrestling - Anderson Heap (NCAA Qualifier)
Monday, March 16
