Clarence Gaines Memorabilia & Collectibles

About Clarence Gaines Memorabilia & Collectibles

 Clarence Gaines was a long-serving basketball coach at the Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was born in Paducah, Kentucky where he attended Lincoln High School and performed scholastically and physically well. He entered Morgan State University in Maryland on a  college football scholarship. He was elected All-American for two occasions while playing as a lineman. Gaines was also in the basketball team.  

By the instruction of his football coach, he went to Winston-Salem Teachers College where he was given the job of head coach for both  college football and college  basketball after the previous head coach decided to work for Shaw University instead.  

Gaines became a successful coach in Winston-Salem. He earned the “Football Coach of the Year Award” by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in 1948. The award was given after he led his team to an 8-1 record for that season. However in 1949, he decided to concentrate on basketball instead. 

Under his watch, the Rams were able to win the 1967 NCAA Championship setting a record as the first historically black college or university to take the title. He was able to train the likes of Earl Monroe, Cleo Hill and Stephen A. Smith. 

Coaches play an integral role in any team. Real sports fans commend the efforts of these people. Sportsmemorabilia.com respects them and has a whole collection of basketball game used items dedicated to them. You can find autographed basketballs, autographed jerseys, signed trading cards and game tickets, autographed footballs and autographed college helmets and mini-helmets.