2003 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE | DALE CLAYTON
Dale Clayton, the 2002 South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year and NABC Regional Coach of the Year, began his basketball career at Milligan. A three-year starter and guard for the Buffaloes, he earned eight athletic letters, four in basketball and four in track before graduating in 1973. He remained at Milligan after graduation where, among other duties, he was an assistant basketball coach for four years. In his eight seasons as a player and coach at Milligan, the Buffaloes averaged 23 wins per year.
After a one-year stop at Delta State University as an assistant coach, Clayton began a six-year stint with the Vanderbilt Commodores. From 1978-84 the Commodores had only one losing season. Clayton then left Vanderbilt to become the associate head coach at Samford University in Birmingham. After three years there, Clayton moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, for a one-year stop as an assistant coach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The next year, he accepted a position at Carson-Newman, where he is now entering his 16th season at the helm of the school's basketball program.
As a dedicated coach and administrator, Dale has given the Carson-Newman program renewed respect both on the floor and in the classroom. Under his leadership, the Eagles have made a commitment to excelling in academics, while at the same time continuing a successful tradition there.
Coach Clayton led the Eagles to one of the best seasons in school history in 2001-02. The Eagles went 26-5, won the SAC regular season and tournament championships, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16. Clayton notched his 200th career victory during that season.
Clayton has been a guest on ABC’s Nightline and was featured in a 1998 issue of the Sharing the Victory, the FCA’s national magazine.
As an administrator, Clayton has been very active in the NCAA governance structure, serving on the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, the Division II Amateurism Project Team and the Division II Men’s Basketball Committee, which he chaired last year. He is the former president of the Black Coaches Association and was recently honored by his election to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Board of Directors.
Dale and his wife, Pamela, have one daughter, Monica. They are members of Manley Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee, where he teaches a Sunday School class for college students.
It is with great pride that Dale's alma mater inducts him into the Milligan College Athletics Hall of Fame.