Dr. Charles 'Chic' Hess

Dr. Charles "Chic" Hess

Basketball Historian, Distinguished Coach & Author

230-81 Coaching Record
3x Coach of the Year
Ed.D. Valedictorian

Early Life & Education

Chic and his seven siblings were born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia. After moving to the suburbs, Chic played his high school basketball at Bishop Egan High School, a member of the Northern Division of the Philadelphia Catholic League.

He later played for legendary coach, Howie Landa at Trenton Junior College before moving on to East Stroudsburg University to earn both his bachelor's and master's degrees in health and physical education. Eventually, Hess received his doctorate in education from Brigham Young University, where he was named class valedictorian.

Coaching Career

Pennsylvania School Districts

Pennsbury, Loyalsock Township & Lebanon

While teaching and coaching in the Pennsbury, Loyalsock Township, and Lebanon School Districts in Pennsylvania, Hess's teams accumulated a distinguished 230-81 record, and he was honored with three coach-of-the-year awards.

Lebanon High School

Pennsylvania

At Lebanon High School, his teams earned him a 158-57 record. Hess and his 1978 state finalist team have since been inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Fame.

Lebanon High School Hall of Fame

Brigham Young University-Hawaii

1988-1989 Seasons

Recognized as the NAIA District 29 Basketball Coach of the Year.

NAIA District 29 Coach of the Year

Arizona Western College

National Recognition

Dr. Hess was named the NABC-Kodak National Junior College Basketball Coach of the Year.

National Junior College Coach of the Year

Awards & Recognition

Coach of the Year Award

Coach of the Year

Multiple coach-of-the-year honors throughout his distinguished career

Hall of Fame Induction

Hall of Fame

Lebanon High School Sports Hall of Fame with 1978 state finalist team

Hawaii House of Representatives Award

Hawaii House of Representatives

Recognized for exceptional service in youth basketball development

SHAPE America Board of Directors

SHAPE America

Southwest District representative to the Board of Governors

Professional Leadership

As a professional physical educator and member of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (now known as SHAPE America), Hess served in the following positions:

President

Hawaii Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Vice President

Division of Sport & Division of Physical Education

Southwest District Leadership

President-elect, President, and Past President of AAHPERD

Chair

NASPE Academy for History of Sport, Philosophy, and Sociology

Executive Director

Southwest District of SHAPE America

Board Representative

Southwest District representative to Board of Governors of SHAPE America

Selected Publications

Prof Blood and the Wonder Teams

Prof Blood and the Wonder Teams

The True Story of Basketball's First Great Coach

Newark, NJ: Newark Abbey Press, 2003

Get Your Copy

Articles & Contributions

  • "A Look Back at the 'Clean Sport Roll.'" Coach and ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. Volume 75, No.2, September 2005:70.
  • "All-Purpose Dribbling Drill." Basketball Clinic. (Selected for publication in The Basketball Clinic Treasury of Drills).
  • "Analysis of the Jump Shot." Athletic Journal November (Cover Article).
  • "Basketball Diaries: Notes on Life and Sport with Coach Chic Hess." Go Kailua June 2021: 60-62.
  • "Basketball should be free and accessible." Honolulu Star Advertiser 14 June 2023: Island Voices.
  • "Basketball's First Wizard." Time Out. The Official Newsletter of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association, Volume 41 Number 4, April 2003:8.
  • "Education is Not Just About Test Scores." Honolulu Advertiser 31 October 1999: B3.
  • "Educators Must Make P.E. a Bigger Priority." Honolulu Advertiser 3 August 2003: B4.
  • "For high school athletics, Ticket Spicket is a mixed bag." Honolulu Star Advertiser 12 Jan. 2023: A11.
  • "High School Basketball Wonder Teams." Washington Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
  • "High School Wonder Teams in New Jersey." Indiana Basketball History Magazine. Volume 11, No.3, Summer 2003:5.
  • "Little Dribblers are Filling a Need." Kailua Beach Neighbors July 2018: 16-17.
  • "New Commitments to Old Challenges." Hawaii Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Newsletter, Fall 2001.
  • "Powerlifting on Campus." Muscular Development Oct. 1968: 18-19, 48.
  • "Schools hold solution to obesity: P.E." Honolulu Advertiser 11 June 2006: B3.
  • "Sportsmanship: Past and Present." Indiana Basketball History Magazine. Volume 12, No.1, Winter 2004:56.
  • "Teach Your Players How to Shoot." The Coaching Clinic February.
  • "The Amazing Story of Professor Blood." BOXSCORE. A Publication of the Indiana High School Basketball Historical Society.
  • "The Orlando Odyssey." Hawaii Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Newsletter Spring 2000:4.
  • "The Weave Offense." National Association of Basketball Coaches Journal Summer 1992:32.
  • "What the Blue-Chip H. S. Basketball Players Think of Their Recruitment Pitches." Scholastic Coach.
  • "Why Let Just Anybody Coach Isle Students?" Honolulu Star Bulletin 22 May 2005: C2.

Revised 19 January 2023

Today

Chic is father to Christine, Rebecca, and Stephen, and he and his wife, Linda, have seven grandchildren.

Chic and his wife reside in Kailua, Hawaii, where he has been recognized by the Hawaii House of Representatives and the Positive Coaching Alliance for conducting basketball player development programs for the youth and coaching clinics for the states' coaches.

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