A Kentucky Wildcats legend has died.Former UK basketball Coach Joe B. Hall died in Lexington on Saturday morning, Jan. 15, according to an announcement on current Kentucky Coach John Calipari's Facebook page. Hall took over the storied program from its legendary coach Adolph Rupp in 1972 after being an assistant on Rupp's staff beginning in 1965. During his tenure, Joe B. Hall led Kentucky to the national title in the 1978 National Championship game against Duke as well as a Final Four appearance in 1984.Later, he helped to secure the building of the Wildcat Coal Lodge, a special lodging space dedicated specifically to Kentucky's men's basketball team. A statue of Hall was dedicated outside of the lodge in 2012, struck in the pose of Hall sitting on the sideline with his signature game program rolled up and clutched in hand. Long after retirement, Hall co-hosted a radio sports talk show, The Joe B. and Denny Show, with former long-time rival University of Louisville head coach Denny Crum for a decade from 2004 to 2014. "Coach Hall always met me with a smile, including two days ago when I went to see him and hold his hand," said Coach Calipari. "He understood everything that was said, and as I prayed for him, he squeezed my hand tight."Pictured below is Coach Calipari hugging Joe B. Hall at the 2012 Big Blue Madness.UK Athletics released the following tweet.Hall was 93 years old.
A Kentucky Wildcats legend has died.
Former UK basketball Coach Joe B. Hall died in Lexington on Saturday morning, Jan. 15, according to an announcement on current Kentucky Coach John Calipari's Facebook page.
Hall took over the storied program from its legendary coach Adolph Rupp in 1972 after being an assistant on Rupp's staff beginning in 1965.
During his tenure, Joe B. Hall led Kentucky to the national title in the 1978 National Championship game against Duke as well as a Final Four appearance in 1984.
Later, he helped to secure the building of the Wildcat Coal Lodge, a special lodging space dedicated specifically to Kentucky's men's basketball team. A statue of Hall was dedicated outside of the lodge in 2012, struck in the pose of Hall sitting on the sideline with his signature game program rolled up and clutched in hand.
Long after retirement, Hall co-hosted a radio sports talk show, The Joe B. and Denny Show, with former long-time rival University of Louisville head coach Denny Crum for a decade from 2004 to 2014.
"Coach Hall always met me with a smile, including two days ago when I went to see him and hold his hand," said Coach Calipari. "He understood everything that was said, and as I prayed for him, he squeezed my hand tight."
Pictured below is Coach Calipari hugging Joe B. Hall at the 2012 Big Blue Madness.
UK Athletics released the following tweet.
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Hall was 93 years old.
