Clem Haskins
1996 USA Men's Olympic Team Assistant Coach
University of Minnesota head coach Clem Haskins was named June 21, 1995, by the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee as an assistant coach to the 1996 USA Olympic Men's Basketball Team.
A 16-year (1980-96) head coaching veteran, Haskins has taken Minnesota to postseason play in seven of the last eight seasons, including the NCAA Tournament in 1995, 1994, 1990 and 1989 and the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1996, 1993 and 1992, winning the NIT championship in 1993. In 10 seasons (1986-96) at Minnesota, Haskins owns a record of 170-137 (.554) and in 16 seasons as a college head coach boasts of a career mark of 271-210 (.563).
Prior to arriving at Minnesota, Haskins was head coach for six seasons (1980-86) and an assistant coach for three years (1977-80) at his alma mater, Western Kentucky University, where he tallied a 101-73 (.581) record and took his Hilltoppers squads to three postseason tournaments, including two NCAA Tournaments. In 1985-86, Haskins' final season at Western
Kentucky, the Hilltoppers advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round and compiled a 23-8 record. In his inaugural season at WKU, his team finished 21-8, won the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) title, went to the NCAA Tournament and Haskins was honored as Rookie Coach of the Year by the OVC and NBC-TV.
Haskins also boasts of previous USA Basketball coaching experience. In 1991 at the U.S. Olympic Festival in Los Angeles, California, Haskins directed his North team to an unblemished 4-0 mark and captured the gold medal. In 1994, Haskins worked his magic again when he coached the USA Junior Team to a sparkling 8-0 record and the gold medal at the COPABA Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Argentina. In qualifying the United States junior men for the 1995 World Championship, Haskins' squad averaged 106.1 points offensively, while recording an average margin of victory of 40.1 points a game.
As a player at Western Kentucky, Haskins achieved All-American status twice (1967, 1966) and is the only player in league history to be chosen Player of the Year three consecutive seasons. Compiling 1,680 points (22.1 ppg.) during his three college seasons, still today he ranks as Western Kentucky's second all-time leading career scorer. The third player selected in the NBA draft in 1967, he went on to play nine outstanding seasons with the Chicago Bulls (1967-70), the Phoenix Suns (1970-74) and Washington Bullets (1974-76).
Haskins and his wife Yevette resides in Minnetonka, Minnesota. They're the parents of three children -- daughters Lori and Clemette, and son Brent.
