Charles Lee ’06 Named Head Coach of NBA’s Charlotte Hornets
5/9/2024 1:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell Athletics Hall-of-Famer Charles Lee '06 has been named head coach of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, VP of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson announced on Wednesday morning. Lee, who was one of the catalysts of two of the finest teams in Bucknell basketball history, becomes the 12th head coach in the franchise's history.
Lee is the first former student-athlete who played in the Patriot League (1990-present) to become an NBA head coach. He is the second Bucknell alum to coach in the NBA, joining Alvin "Doggie" Julian '23, who was head coach of the Celtics from 1948-50.
"The opportunity to be the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets is a dream come true," Lee said in the Hornets' press release. "I want to thank Rick Schnall, Gabe Plotkin and Jeff Peterson for the trust they are placing in me to lead this team. The Hornets have a talented young core of players and I'm excited about our future and what we can build here. There are few places as passionate about basketball as the Carolinas, and I look forward to coming to Charlotte and getting to work."
Lee co-captained Bucknell's 2005 and 2006 Patriot League championship teams that went on to win games in the NCAA Tournament. The 2005 squad upset Kansas, marking the first NCAA win in Bucknell and Patriot League history, and the 2006 team earned a No. 9 seed and defeated Arkansas in the first round behind Lee's 24 points.
Lee was the 2006 Patriot League Player of the Year, a three-time all-league selection, and the first player in PL history to win back-to-back Tournament MVP awards. He finished his career with 1,147 career points and received the Christy Mathewson Award as the top athlete in his class.
"Charles Lee embodies the essence of Bucknell Basketball — his legacy as a legend, a Hall of Famer, and a true leader resonates on and off the court," said head coach and former teammate John Griffin III '08. "Charles' dedication to excellence is evident in every aspect of his life. As he embarks on this new chapter as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, his winning spirit, fierce competitiveness, and boundless passion will undoubtedly propel the organization to greater heights. With his incredible family by his side, which includes Lindsey '06 and their three beautiful daughters, Charles exemplifies the values of perseverance, integrity, and hard work. From leading our program to historic victories against Kansas and Arkansas in the NCAA tournament to being named an NBA head coach, Charles' journey continues to inspire. I am beyond excited for Charles. This is a historic day for the Bucknell Basketball program and the Bucknell Brotherhood."
After graduation, Lee was the final preseason training camp cut of the San Antonio Spurs, and he went on to play professionally in Europe. He started his coaching career back at Bucknell as an assistant under Dave Paulsen in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and he helped lead the Bison to the 2013 Patriot League Tournament.
Lee's NBA tenure began with a four-year stint with the Atlanta Hawks, followed by five seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. Lee joined the Boston Celtics as the team's top assistant this season, helping the team to an NBA-best 64-18 record in the regular season. The Celtics currently have a 1-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.
In Lee's 10 seasons as an NBA assistant coach, his teams have won nearly 64 percent of their games, reached the playoffs nine times, and captured seven division titles. His teams have finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA in four of the last six seasons. He was the associate head coach on the 2020-21 Bucks team that won the NBA championship.
"We are excited to welcome Charles Lee as the head coach of Charlotte Hornets," said Peterson in a press release. "His high character and his ability to connect with players while also instilling a culture of accountability will serve us well as we construct a competitive team built for long-term success. Charles possesses a championship pedigree with a wide range of basketball knowledge and NBA experience, has a tremendous work ethic and is a great communicator. He shares our vision for this organization, and I look forward to partnering with him in building something special here in the Carolinas. I can't wait for our Hornets community to meet Charles, his wife Lindsey, and his beautiful daughters, and feel Charles' passion for the game and the intensity of his desire to win."
Lee is the first former student-athlete who played in the Patriot League (1990-present) to become an NBA head coach. He is the second Bucknell alum to coach in the NBA, joining Alvin "Doggie" Julian '23, who was head coach of the Celtics from 1948-50.
"The opportunity to be the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets is a dream come true," Lee said in the Hornets' press release. "I want to thank Rick Schnall, Gabe Plotkin and Jeff Peterson for the trust they are placing in me to lead this team. The Hornets have a talented young core of players and I'm excited about our future and what we can build here. There are few places as passionate about basketball as the Carolinas, and I look forward to coming to Charlotte and getting to work."
Head Coach Charles Lee checkin' in ✅ Full interview on YouTube now!
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) May 9, 2024
🎙️ https://t.co/Gu4HjSL7Lb? pic.twitter.com/lYI02OSDgq
Lee co-captained Bucknell's 2005 and 2006 Patriot League championship teams that went on to win games in the NCAA Tournament. The 2005 squad upset Kansas, marking the first NCAA win in Bucknell and Patriot League history, and the 2006 team earned a No. 9 seed and defeated Arkansas in the first round behind Lee's 24 points.
Lee was the 2006 Patriot League Player of the Year, a three-time all-league selection, and the first player in PL history to win back-to-back Tournament MVP awards. He finished his career with 1,147 career points and received the Christy Mathewson Award as the top athlete in his class.
"Charles Lee embodies the essence of Bucknell Basketball — his legacy as a legend, a Hall of Famer, and a true leader resonates on and off the court," said head coach and former teammate John Griffin III '08. "Charles' dedication to excellence is evident in every aspect of his life. As he embarks on this new chapter as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, his winning spirit, fierce competitiveness, and boundless passion will undoubtedly propel the organization to greater heights. With his incredible family by his side, which includes Lindsey '06 and their three beautiful daughters, Charles exemplifies the values of perseverance, integrity, and hard work. From leading our program to historic victories against Kansas and Arkansas in the NCAA tournament to being named an NBA head coach, Charles' journey continues to inspire. I am beyond excited for Charles. This is a historic day for the Bucknell Basketball program and the Bucknell Brotherhood."
After graduation, Lee was the final preseason training camp cut of the San Antonio Spurs, and he went on to play professionally in Europe. He started his coaching career back at Bucknell as an assistant under Dave Paulsen in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and he helped lead the Bison to the 2013 Patriot League Tournament.
Lee's NBA tenure began with a four-year stint with the Atlanta Hawks, followed by five seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. Lee joined the Boston Celtics as the team's top assistant this season, helping the team to an NBA-best 64-18 record in the regular season. The Celtics currently have a 1-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.
In Lee's 10 seasons as an NBA assistant coach, his teams have won nearly 64 percent of their games, reached the playoffs nine times, and captured seven division titles. His teams have finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA in four of the last six seasons. He was the associate head coach on the 2020-21 Bucks team that won the NBA championship.
"We are excited to welcome Charles Lee as the head coach of Charlotte Hornets," said Peterson in a press release. "His high character and his ability to connect with players while also instilling a culture of accountability will serve us well as we construct a competitive team built for long-term success. Charles possesses a championship pedigree with a wide range of basketball knowledge and NBA experience, has a tremendous work ethic and is a great communicator. He shares our vision for this organization, and I look forward to partnering with him in building something special here in the Carolinas. I can't wait for our Hornets community to meet Charles, his wife Lindsey, and his beautiful daughters, and feel Charles' passion for the game and the intensity of his desire to win."
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