‘Bighouse’ Gaines Will Retire After 47 Years at Winston-Salem

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —  Clarence (Bighouse) Gaines, who has more college basketball victories than any coach except Adolph Rupp, will retire at the end of the season after 47 years at Winston-Salem State.

Gaines, 69, came to Winston-Salem in 1945 and has compiled a record of 828-440. Rupp had 875 victories over 41 seasons at Kentucky.

“Bighouse is one of the finest coaches ever,” North Carolina Coach Dean Smith said. “Unfortunately, he didn’t get his just due because of the racial inequality in our country. . . . He is the type of person this profession needs.”

Gaines’ 1967 team, led by Earl (The Pearl) Monroe, was 31-1 and won the NCAA college division championship, the first national title won by a black school.

“It’s been a great 47 years,” Gaines said. “After talking it over with my family, they thought it would be in my best interests to relieve myself of some of the responsibilities that I now have.”

Said USC Coach George Raveling: “In my mind, he is one of the giants of basketball. He is right up there with Wooden, Rupp, Auerbach and Iba. Unfortunately, people will never realize his full contribution to the game of basketball.”