Gib Chapman

Last updated
Gib Chapman
Biographical details
Born (1936-03-07) March 7, 1936 (age 89)
Houlton, Maine
Alma mater University of Maine
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Men's basketball
1957–1958Danforth HS (ME)
1959–1960Perth Regional HS (NB)
1960–1967 Ricker
1967–1973 Acadia
1979–1982 Guelph
1986–1989 Toronto
1992–1996 New Hampshire
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1960–1967 Ricker
1968–1979 Acadia
1979–1982 Guelph
1982–1989 Toronto
1989–1996 New Hampshire (Men's AD)
Head coaching record
Overall38–6 (.864) (High school)
188–44 (.810) (U Sports)
46–64 (.418) (NCAA)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

Gilbert W. Chapman (born March 8, 1936) is an American coach and administrator who was head basketball coach and athletic director at Acadia University, University of Guelph, the University of Toronto, and the University of New Hampshire.

Contents

Early life

Chapman graduated from Ricker Junior College. After military service, he enrolled in the University of Maine, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1960. [1]

Coaching

High school

Chapman began his coaching career in 1957 at Danforth High School in Danforth, Maine. During the 1959–60 season he coached at Perth Regional High School in Perth, New Brunswick. His overall record at the high school level was 38–6. [1]

Ricker College

From 1960 to 1967, Chapman was the head men's basketball coach at Ricker College, where he compiled a 107–30 record. [1] He was also the school's athletic director and in 1963, the college was accepted as an associate member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. [2]

Acadia University

In 1967, Chapman was named varsity men's basketball and soccer coach at Acadia University. The following year, he was promoted to head of the physical education department and director of athletics while continuing to coach basketball. His 1968–69 team, lead by Brian Heaney, made it to the semi-finals of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union national basketball championship tournament. The Axemen were able to win the tournament in 1971, which was held on Acadia's campus. Following the 1972–73 season, Chapman was named dean of the School of Recreation and Physical Education. [3] His overall record at Acadia was 128–26. [1]

University of Guelph

From 1979 to 1982, Chapman was the athletic director and men's basketball coach at Guelph. The team went 25–11 over three seasons and did not make the national tournament. [4]

University of Toronto

In 1982, Chapman became director of athletics at the University of Toronto, succeeding the retiring Bud Fraser. [5] He took over as head men's basketball coach in 1986 and led the team to a 35-7 record over three seasons. [6] In 1989, he led the Varsity Blues to their first appearance in the national semifinals. [7]

University of New Hampshire

Chapman returned to the United States in 1989 when he became men's athletic director at the University of New Hampshire. [8] In 1992, he took on the dual role of men's basketball coach as a cost-saving measure during a university-wide hiring freeze. [9] The Wildcats compiled a 46–64 record in four seasons under Chapman, including two winning seasons (1993–94 and 1994–95). [10] Following the 1995–96 season, the positions of men's and women's athletic director were consolidated under Judy Ray and Chapman was fired as both men's basketball coach and men's athletic director. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Chapman named aide to Canada national team". Bangor Daily News. May 30, 1973. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  2. "Ricker College An NCAA Associate". Lewiston Evening Journal. June 4, 1963. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  3. "Gilbert Chapman". Acadia Athletics. Acadia University. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  4. "Men's Basketball History" (PDF). Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  5. "New job for Schultz". Ottawa Citizen. July 9, 1982. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  6. "Men's Basketball Head Coaches (Since 1925)". Varsity Blues. University of Toronto. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  7. Hunter, Paul (March 14, 1989). "U.S. calling Blues' Chapman?". Toronto Star.
  8. Lessels, Allen (March 25, 1989). "Chapman takes the reins: New UNH men's athletic director ready to 'get on with it'". The Boston Globe.
  9. "Double duties". The Telegraph. March 25, 1992. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  10. "Gib Chapman". SRCBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  11. Lessels, Allen (April 14, 1996). "Game at UNH is name that hoop coach". The Boston Globe.