Skip Chappelle

Skip Chappelle

Biographical details
Born	Old Town, Maine, U.S.
Playing career
1959–1962	Maine
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1968	Fort Fairfield HS (ME)
1968–1971	Maine (Asst.)
1971–1988	Maine
Head coaching record
Overall	217–226
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
3× First-team All-Yankee (1960–1962) ECAC North Coach of the Year (1988)

Thomas Nelson "Skip" Chappelle is an American former college basketball player and coach at the University of Maine.

Playing career

After starring at Old Town High School and leading the school to the 1957 Maine state championship, Chappelle spent a post-graduate year at Maine Central Institute where he was part of its New England Prep Championship squad. He played his college basketball with Maine where he was a three-time All-Yankee Conference selection, and the school's first player to be selected as a Little All-American. He was the first Black Bear men's basketball player to have his jersey number retired by the university.

Chappelle was selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the 11th round of the 1962 NBA draft, becoming the school's first-ever NBA Draft selection. He tried out for the Boston Celtics in 1962, but left the team to return to his job as a teacher and coach in Fort Fairfield, Maine.

Coaching career

Chappelle returned to Maine in 1968 as assistant varsity and head freshman basketball coach. He took over as head coach in 1971, guiding the Black Bears to a 217–226 record over 17 seasons. During that time, Chappelle coached seven future NBA draft selections, including Rufus Harris, Jeff Cross and Rick Carlisle. He also coached Maine's golf team.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Maine (Yankee Conference / ECAC North) (1971–1988)
1971–72	Maine	15–10	6–4	2nd
1972–73	Maine	13–10	6–6	4th
1973–74	Maine	14–10	2–10	7th
1974–75	Maine	11–14	1–10	7th
1975–76	Maine	14–11	5–7	5th
1976–77	Maine	13–13	N/A	N/A
1977–78	Maine	17–8	N/A	N/A
1978–79	Maine	14–10	N/A	N/A
1979–80	Maine	14–12	N/A	4th
1980–81	Maine	14–14	N/A	4th
1981–82	Maine	7–19	3–7	6th
1982–83	Maine	12–14	6–4	4th
1983–84	Maine	17–10	7–7	5th
1984–85	Maine	11–17	5–11	T–6th
1985–86	Maine	7–20	5–13	T–7th
1986–87	Maine	10–18	6–12	7th
1987–88	Maine	13–15	10–8	6th
Maine:		217–226 (.490)	62–99 (.385)
Total:		217–226 (.490)

Post-coaching career

After leaving Maine, Chappelle was the director of community relations for the Bangor Daily News and director of the Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament (formerly the Bangor Daily News Amateur Golf Tournament).