Claude W. English (born December 26, 1946, in Columbus, Georgia) is a retired American basketball player and coach who spent one season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Portland Trail Blazers during their inaugural 1970–71 season. He was drafted by the Blazers in the seventh round (110th pick overall) during the 1970 NBA draft from the University of Rhode Island.

Claude English
Personal information
Born (1946-12-26) December 26, 1946 (age 77)
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolSouth Girard
(Phenix City, Alabama)
CollegeRhode Island (1968–1970)
NBA draft1970: 7th round, 110th overall pick
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Playing career1970–1971
PositionSmall forward
Number15
Coaching career1971–1984
Career history
As player:
1970–1971Portland Trail Blazers
As coach:
1971–1980Rhode Island (assistant)
1980–1984Rhode Island
1992–2005Park
Career highlights and awards
As coach:
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Coaching/Athletic Director Career

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English returned to the University of Rhode Island, where he began a tenure as an assistant basketball coach shortly after his NBA career ended. English then served as the head coach at Rhode Island from 1980 to 1984.[1]

Since 1996, English has served as the athletic director at Park University in Parkville, Missouri. English served as head men's basketball coach at Park University from 1992 through 2005, being named the American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1996 and in 1998. In 2010, English was inducted into the McLendon Minority Athletics Administrators Hall of Fame in Anaheim, California. In 2011, English was inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame, in his hometown of Phenix City, Alabama. In 2017, English was named the American Midwest Conference Athletic Director of the Year.[2][3][1]

Of his athletic director career, English said "I’m just a coach who coaches the coaches. That’s the way I always see my job. I want to motivate other people the way I’m motivated."[1][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Columbus native Claude English named AMC AD of the Year". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. July 8, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "Claude English - Athletic Staff". Park University Athletics.
  3. ^ "Claude W. English - Wall of Honor". Park University Athletics.
  4. ^ "2011 Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame: Basketball takes Claude English from South Girard to NBA". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. February 4, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
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