He demands conditioning, execution of fundamentals and teamwork. He is soft-spoken but firm; business-like, yet personable.
The man of many seasons at Azusa Pacific, Cliff Hamlow begins his 32nd year at the helm of Cougar basketball. A member ot the NAIA's Hall of Fame, Hamlow also begins the season at the NAIA"s winningest active coach with 560 career victories to his credit. The record, quite succinctly, speaks for itself.
Hamlow became Azusa Pacific's head coach for basketball as a 1954 junior at the school, when it was known as Pacific Bible College. During his tenure he has coached teams to 20-or-more wins 16 times and 20 of his teams have been above the .500 mark. Six time the wining percentage has been .800 or better. His 1973-74 team won the NAIA District III title for Azusa Pacific's first-ever appearance in the 32-team NAIA Championship Tournament in Kansas City, Mo. He led 11 other of his teams made it to the playoffs.
In addition to his basketball responsibilities, Hamlow serves Azusa Pacific as the director of athletics (now in his 34th years) and as Vice-President of Alumni and Church Relations. For the NAIA, Hamlow was the chairman of the NAIA District III for several years and served on other national committees such as NAIA National Basketball Tournament Committee, the Blue Ribbon Committee and the National District Chairs. In the spring of 1987 he was chosen by his peer to an eight-year term as a member ot the NAIA National Executive Committee.
Educationally, Hamlow graduated from Denair High School (1952) and Pacific Bible College (1956). He received a master's degree from USC (1965) and completed his doctorate work at Walden University (1976).
Hamlow Coaching Record
Year Record Pct. Cumulative
1954-55 7-2 .778 7-2
1955-56 20-5 .800 27-7
1956-57 21-9 .700 48-16
1957-58 6-19 .240 54-35
1958-59 15-13 .536 69-48
1959-60 13-18 .419 82-66
1960-61 16-10 .615 98-76
1961-62 20-10 .667 118-86
1962-63 9-20 .310 127-106
1963-64 21-11 .656 148-117
1964-65 24-4 .857 172-121
1965-66 23-6 .793 195-127
1966-67 16-16 .500 211-143
1967-68 21-9 .700 232-152
1968-69 28-7 .800 260-159
1969-70 29-6 .829 289-165
1970-71 25-11 .694 314-176
1971-72 26-10 .722 340-186
1972-73 28-7 .800 368-193
1973-74 28-5 .848 396-198
1974-75 12-16 .429 408-214
1975-76 11-17 .392 419-231
1976-77 12-19 .387 431-250
1977-78 14-17 .451 445-267
1978-79 13-20 .394 458-287
1979-80 25-10 .714 483-297
1980-81 20-18 .526 503-315
1981-82 22-11 .667 252-327
1984-85 8-27 .229 533-353
1985-86 12-22 .353 545-375
1986-87 15-18 .455 560-393
