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Bruce Hale

Bruce Hale (1918-1980)

Teams coached: Indianapolis Jets, Miami Hurricanes, Oakland Oaks, Saint Mary’s Gaels
Miami (FL) record: 220-112 (.663)
Saint Mary’s record: 26-52 (.333)
Overall record: 246-164 (.600)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  1  (1960)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  3  (1961, 1963, 1964)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1970-1973 Saint Mary’s
1967-1968 Oakland Oaks
1954-1967 Miami (FL)
1948 Indianapolis Jets

Bruce Hale Facts

  • William Bruce Hale
  • Born August 30, 1918
  • Died December 30, 1980
  • Hometown: Medford, Oregon
  • Alma Mater: Santa Clara University (BA, 1941)
  • Originally from Oregon, Hale graduated from Galileo HS in San Francisco before going to Santa Clara
    • Played basketball for the Santa Clara Broncos under head coach George Barsi
  • Played professionally for several years, including stints with the Chicago American Gears (NBL), St. Paul Saints (NBL), Indianapolis Kautskys/Jets (NBL), Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA) and Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
    • Head coaches Hale played for include Burl Friddle, Curly Armstrong and Cliff Barker
    • Served as player/coach of the Indianapolis Jets for 17 games in 1948, going 4-13 as coach
  • Became the head coach at Miami in 1954, leading the then-Independent Hurricanes for 13 seasons
    • Went 220-112 overall, finishing above .500 in 11 of those years and winning 20+ games five times
    • His 1959-60 team went 23-4, reached the NCAA Tournament and reached the AP Top 10 for the first time ever
    • Later inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame (class of 1986)
  • Spent one year as the head coach of the ABA’s Oakland Oaks, going 22-56 and missing the playoffs
  • Took over as the head coach at Saint Mary’s in Moraga, CA, coaching the Gaels for three season
    • Went 26-52 overall and finished below .500 each season at the helm
  • After coaching, Hale began working in media; would eventually work in marketing for KNBR in San Francisco
  • Passed away in 1981 at the age of 62 after suffering a heart attack; survived by his wife, Doris and their three children
    • Hale’s daughter, Pam, is married 8x NBA All-Star Rick Barry, making Hale the grandfather of there five sons who all play professional basketball, including former NBA players Brent, Jon and Drew Barry; Rick played for Hale at Miami (FL)

Bruce Hale Coaching Tree

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I level only