| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1896-04-08)April 8, 1896[1] Burlington, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | August 23, 1962(1962-08-23) (aged 66) Jamaica Plain,Boston,Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Mount Saint Joseph College |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1922–1925 | Salem HS (MA) |
| 1925–1927 | St. John's Prep. (MA) |
| 1927–1938 | Providence |
| 1940–1943 | Saint Anselm |
| 1945–1953 | Boston College |
| 1953–1956 | Belmont Abbey |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 320–193 (college) |
Albert B. "General" McClellan (April 8, 1896 – August 23, 1962) was a college basketball coach atProvidence,St. Anselm,Boston College, andBelmont Abbey.
McClellan was a standout athlete atSt. John's Preparatory School andMount Saint Joseph College. He pitched in the minor leagues for theBaltimore Orioles of theInternational League in 1917 and theWaterbury Nattatucks andHartford Senators of theEastern League in 1919.[2][3] DuringWorld War I, he served in theUnited States Navy's aviation corps and was stationed inPensacola andCharleston. In 1918, he won the high jump competition at the Army–Navy service championships inBaltimore. After leaving the military, McClellan played professional basketball for the Nanticoke and Pittston teams in the Pennsylvania State League.[4]
McClellan began his coaching career in 1922 atSalem High School inSalem, Massachusetts. In 1925, he moved to St. John's Preparatory School inDanvers, Massachusetts, where he compiled a 31-2 record over two years.[2]
McClellan was the head coach at Providence from 1927 to 1938. In his eleven seasons as head coach, the Friars had a 147-65 record. He produced two All-Americans,Ed Wineapple (who also played for McClellan at Salem High) and John Krieger. He resigned after the 1938 season because he refused to take a pay cut as part of the administration's decision to give more money to the football program.[2][5]
McClellan returned to college basketball in 1940 as the head coach of the St. Anselm Hawks. When Boston College decided to reinstate their basketball team in 1945, McClellan was chosen to coach the revived team. He resigned from his position after the 1953 and became the first head basketball coach atBelmont Abbey College. At the time of his resignation, he was BC's winningest basketball coach. McClellan retired from coaching in 1956.[6]
McClellan died on August 23, 1962, at the age of 63.[7][8]