Clyde Lee (American football)

Clyde V. Lee (February 11, 1908 – December 12, 1995) was an American football player and coach. 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.[1] 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.

Clyde Lee
Lee, c. 1952
Biographical details
Born(1908-02-11)February 11, 1908
Wortham, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 12, 1995(1995-12-12) (aged 87)
Lake Jackson, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
1930–1932Centenary
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1932–1935Overton HS (TX)
1935–1941Kilgore
1945–1947Tulsa (assistant)
1948–1954Houston
Head coaching record
Overall37–32–2 (college)
57–10–5 (junior college)
Bowls1–0
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 TJCC (1936, 1939, 1941)
1 MVC (1952)

After his college playing career, Lee served as head coach for several sports including football to Overton High School in Overton, Texas.[1] 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 game berth, to the 1952 Salad Bowl, and a Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) championship in 1952. During his first season, fewer 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.[2] He died on December 12, 1995, at Plantation Health Care Center in Lake Jackson, Texas.[3]

Head coaching record

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Junior college

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Kilgore Rangers (Texas Junior College Conference) (1935–1941)
1935 Kilgore 5–3–2
1936 Kilgore 10–1 1st
1937 Kilgore 9–2–1
1938 Kilgore 8–1–1
1939 Kilgore 10–0 1st
1940 Kilgore 7–2–1
1941 Kilgore 8–1 1st
Kilgore: 57–10–5
Total: 57–10–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches#
Houston Cougars (Lone Star Conference) (1948)
1948 Houston 5–6 3–3 4th
Houston Cougars (Gulf Coast Conference) (1949)
1949 Houston 5–4–1 1–2 3rd
Houston Cougars (Independent) (1950)
1950 Houston 4–6
Houston Cougars (Missouri Valley Conference) (1951–1954)
1951 Houston 6–5 2–2 4th W Salad
1952 Houston 8–2 3–0 1st 19
1953 Houston 4–4–1 1–2 3rd
1954 Houston 5–5 3–1 2nd
Houston: 37–32–2 13–10
Total: 37–32–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ a b Wizig, Jerry (1977). Eat 'Em Up Cougars: Houston Football. Huntsville, Alabama: The Strode Publisher. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-87397-122-5.
  2. ^ Wizig, Jerry (1977). Eat 'Em Up Cougars: Houston Football. Huntsville, Alabama: The Strode Publisher. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-87397-122-5.
  3. ^ "Clyde V. Lee". Brazosport Facts. Clute, Texas. December 12, 1995. p. 2A. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
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