Photo - UK Athletics
The man who faced the unenviable task of following Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky has died. Former Kentucky basketball coach Joe B. Hall died early Saturday morning at the age of 93.
Hall would go on to lead the Wildcats to the 1978 NCAA championship with a team that many consider one of the top teams in UK history. During his 13 years as Kentucky coach, from 1972 to 1985, Hall led the Wildcats to 297 victories.
Hall is one of only three men to both play on, and coach, an NCAA championship team (1949, 1978) and is the only one to do so for the same school.
Hall had played under Rupp and served as his assistant for seven years before being elevated to head coach of the Wildcats.
Hall retired from coaching the Cats after the 1984-1985 season at the age of 56.
Hall was National Coach of the Year in 1978 and four-time SEC Coach of the Year. Hall’s record at Kentucky was 297-100.
