Clyde Lee (American football)
Encyclopedia
Clyde Lee was an American football
player and coach in the United States
. He served as the head football coach at the University of Houston
from 1948 to 1954, guiding the Cougars
to a 37–32–2 record. Lee played his college career at Centenary College
from 1930 to 1932 under Homer Norton. Among his college teammates was Lovette Hill
, who later served as his colleague at Houston on his coaching staff and as head baseball coach for the school.
After his college playing career, Lee served as head coach for several sports including football to Overton High School
in Overton, Texas
. He was paid $90 a month, taught five math classes, a history class, and coached for four sports without an assistant. In three seasons, his record was 28–3–2. Lee then moved into his first college coaching job as head coach for Kilgore College
where he compiled a 57–10–5 record before entering the United States Navy
. Upon leaving the armed services, he coached at the University of Tulsa
under Buddy Brothers
for two years.
At Houston, Lee was credited with improving the strength of the Cougars' schedules. This began during the 1949 season, when Houston played its first major opponent, William & Mary
. He led the Cougars to their first bowl berth, and a conference championship in 1952. During his first season, less than 100 season tickets were sold by the Cougars, but by 1952, over 10,000 were sold.
After retiring from coaching, Lee moved to Freeport, Texas
, and became a regular at Cougars home games.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He served as the head football coach at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
from 1948 to 1954, guiding the Cougars
Houston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
to a 37–32–2 record. Lee played his college career at Centenary College
Centenary College of Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college in Shreveport, Louisiana. The college is one of the founding members of the Associated Colleges of the South, a pedagogical organization consisting of sixteen Southern liberal arts colleges...
from 1930 to 1932 under Homer Norton. Among his college teammates was Lovette Hill
Lovette Hill
Lovette L. Hill was the fourth head coach of the Houston Cougars baseball team from 1950 to 1974. Hill holds the record for the longest serving head baseball coach in University of Houston history. While at Houston, Hill compiled a 343–325–5 record with five first place finishes in the Missouri...
, who later served as his colleague at Houston on his coaching staff and as head baseball coach for the school.
After his college playing career, Lee served as head coach for several sports including football to Overton High School
Overton Independent School District
Overton Independent School District is a public school district based in Overton, Texas . In addition to the immediate Overton vicinity, the district serves rural areas in eastern Smith and western Rusk counties...
in Overton, Texas
Overton, Texas
Overton is a city in Rusk and Smith Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,350 at the 2000 census.Overton lies in two counties as well as two metropolitan areas...
. He was paid $90 a month, taught five math classes, a history class, and coached for four sports without an assistant. In three seasons, his record was 28–3–2. Lee then moved into his first college coaching job as head coach for Kilgore College
Kilgore College
Kilgore College is a community college located in Kilgore, Texas. It has an annual enrollment of more than 5000 students.The school was established in 1935 at the height of the East Texas oil boom...
where he compiled a 57–10–5 record before entering the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Upon leaving the armed services, he coached at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
under Buddy Brothers
Buddy Brothers
John O. "Buddy" Brothers was an American college football coach. He coached the Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team at the University of Tulsa from 1946 to 1952 and compiled a 45–25–4 record and 0.635 winning percentage.-Coaching career:Brothers attended Texas Tech University, where he played on...
for two years.
At Houston, Lee was credited with improving the strength of the Cougars' schedules. This began during the 1949 season, when Houston played its first major opponent, William & Mary
William & Mary Tribe football
The William & Mary Tribe are a college football team representing the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. William & Mary currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision. As of 2010, Jimmye Laycock is in his 31st...
. He led the Cougars to their first bowl berth, and a conference championship in 1952. During his first season, less than 100 season tickets were sold by the Cougars, but by 1952, over 10,000 were sold.
After retiring from coaching, Lee moved to Freeport, Texas
Freeport, Texas
Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S...
, and became a regular at Cougars home games.