Bruce Hale

William Bruce Hale (August 30, 1918 – December 30, 1980) was an American professional basketball player and coach.

Born(1918-08-30)August 30, 1918

Medford, Oregon, U.S.

DiedDecember 30, 1980(1980-12-30) (aged 62)

Orinda, California, U.S.

Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)

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Bruce Hale

Hale in 1948
Personal information
Born	(1918-08-30)August 30, 1918 Medford, Oregon, U.S.
Died	December 30, 1980(1980-12-30) (aged 62) Orinda, California, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school	Galileo (San Francisco, California)
College	Santa Clara (1938–1941)
Playing career	1946–1951
Position	Guard / forward
Number	22, 35, 7
Coaching career	1947–1973
Career history
Playing
1946–1947	Chicago American Gears
1947–1948	St. Paul Saints
1947–1948	Indianapolis Kautskys
1948	Indianapolis Jets
1948–1949	Fort Wayne Pistons
1949–1951	Indianapolis Olympians
Coaching
1947–1948	St. Paul Saints
1948	Indianapolis Jets
1954–1967	Miami (Florida)
1967–1968	Oakland Oaks
1970–1973	Saint Mary's (assistant)
Career highlights
NBL champion (1947)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

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A 6'1" guard/forward from Medford, Oregon, Hale played college basketball for the Santa Clara Broncos, then played professionally in the early National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Indianapolis Jets, Fort Wayne Pistons, and Indianapolis Olympians. He averaged 9.1 points per game over his NBA career.^[1] He later held coaching positions with the University of Miami, the Oakland Oaks of the American Basketball Association, and St. Mary's College of California. With Miami, he took the program to their first NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 1960, which would be the last for the program for 38 years. Before he died of a heart attack in 1980, he had been working as a marketing director at the KNBR radio station.^[2]

Hale's daughter, Pam, married basketball player Rick Barry, who played for Hale at the University of Miami.^[3] Through Pam, Hale is the grandfather of NBA players Brent Barry, Jon Barry, and Drew Barry.^[4][5]

Hale was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.^[6]