| Skip Chappelle | |
| Birth Place: | Old Town, Maine, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1959–1962 |
| Player Team1: | Maine |
| Coach Years1: | 1962–1968 |
| Coach Team1: | Fort Fairfield HS (ME) |
| Coach Years2: | 1968–1971 |
| Coach Team2: | Maine (Asst.) |
| Coach Years3: | 1971–1988 |
| Coach Team3: | Maine |
| Overall Record: | 217–226 |
| Awards: | 3× First-team All-Yankee (1960–1962) ECAC North Coach of the Year (1988) |
Thomas Nelson "Skip" Chappelle[1] is an American former college basketball player and coach at the University of Maine.[2] [3]
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.[4] 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.[5] He was the first Black Bear men's basketball player to have his jersey number retired by the university.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8]
Chappelle returned to Maine in 1968 as assistant varsity and head freshman basketball coach.[9] 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.[10] [11] He also coached Maine's golf team.[12]
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).[13]