Joe B. Hall, who won national titles at Kentucky as player and coach, dies at 93

Joe B. Hall was the coach of the Kentucky men's basketball team that won the NCAA championship in 1990.

Hall is one of only three men to play on and coach an NCAA championship team, and the only one to do so for the same school.

The Kentucky men's basketball team mourned the passing of Joe B. Hall. Our hearts are with the Hall family. We love you, Joe B.

We are sad to hear of the passing of Joe B. Hall. The Hall family is in our hearts.
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We love you, Joe B.

Kentucky Men's Basketball on January 15, 2022.

Hall was a mentor and an icon in our state and profession according to John Calipari.

Hall was the Kentucky coach from 1972 to 1985 and led the team to The 1978 NCAA title in which Hall led the Cats to their fifth championship was the most memorable. Hall followed in the footsteps of Rupp, who won 876 games over 41 seasons at Kentucky.

Hall was offered a chance to come to Kentucky after he coached at Central Missouri State. Hall turned down a job as his recruiter because he wanted to be a floor coach.

They were at the same clinic. Hall was invited to his room and offered a job as an assistant coach. Hall accepted again.

Hall had said it was a dream to be back as an assistant.

Hall almost left Kentucky. Hall wasn't getting the support he wanted to be the next head coach as Rupp's retirement was approaching. Hall once told the Herald-Leader that he took a head-coaching job at Saint Louis, but was begged to stay.

Hall had been an assistant to Rupp for seven years before he was promoted to the top role and he still kept an office in the building.

The growing share of the regional and national spotlight achieved by Denny Crum at Louisville and Bob Knight at Indiana made the near misses in the years following the 1978 title a big deal for the fan base.

In March 1985 Hall resigned as Kentucky's coach, saying he didn't want to be an old coach.

In 1978 and SEC Coach of the Year four times, Hall was named National Coach of the Year. Hall's career record at Kentucky was 373-156, and he had a record of .

Hall was a beloved figure in the state. He was a courtside fixture during home games at the Rupp Arena when he was a Kentucky player. The men's basketball players live at the lodge and there is a statue of Hall in front of it.