Why did Joe B Hall stop coaching?

[HoptownCat93]

I'm only 24, so I have no real information or insight as to why he stopped being the coach of our beloved Wildcats.

His last 3 years were Elite 8, Final 4, Sweet 16. Though he went 18-13 the last year, it seems like he was putting out good teams every year and was bringing in top talent?(I could be wrong). He was only in his mid to late 50's in age. What was the story behind him leaving? Was he pushed out or did he just want to leave? Was there too much pressure following Rupp?

 

[Blue63Madison]

Want the truth? Or some Billy Joe Wildcat's homespun version?

 

[ksil]

I believe it was due to health problems

 

[drcats2013]

Want the truth? Or some Billy Joe Wildcat's homespun version?

Let's hear the truth.

 

[65pacecar]

Let's hear the truth.

YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

Coach Hall was a healthy 56 year old man when he retired, 2 years younger than Cal currently is.

 

[Smashcat]

YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This.

 

[kev69]

Very good question by the op.

Don't think Joe had health problems, considering he's now 117 years old and still getting around.

 

[EvilMD]

The Herald Leader was about to nail him on some stuff. Selling tickets for personal gain. Plus they had their big expose coming up. He got out right before the crap hit the fan.

 

[CELTICAT]

Because he was a very good (not great) coach, the fanbase ate him alive, and what happened in 81, 82, 83 and 84 took his spirit. He also did things that blew up in Sutton's face, but that's just my humble opinion and he was never charged for the way he ran things.

 

[kev69]

The Herald Leader was about to nail him on some stuff. Selling tickets for personal gain. Plus they had their big expose coming up. He got out right before the crap hit the fan.

Interesting.
Didn't realize this.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

The Herald Leader was about to nail him on some stuff. Selling tickets for personal gain. Plus they had their big expose coming up. He got out right before the crap hit the fan.

Could be but I think the man wanted some serenity. Following Rupp was a horrible job for anyone to have to deal with. My wife and I lived on campus then. We hated Joe B. retiring. The one time we met him he was a very good natured man.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-03-24/sports/8501160754_1_dan-issel-kentucky-wildcats-hall

 

[drbubba]

Where's the evidence for this. You don't accuse the Colonel without proof.

 

[kyboy1998]

Joe Hall coached at Kentucky and lived his dream. He really had no where to go but down by taking another job.

Revisionist history has served Joe well. He wasn't nearly as admired, or respected, then as he is now.

 

[KingOfBBN]

Where's the evidence for this. You don't accuse the Colonel without proof.

You should read Blue Yonder that came out in 1999. It's a great book and definitely discloses some of our black eyes and $100 handshakes that went on for decades.

We've got our past issues like Alabama football does and I really don't care. College Athletics is like the minor leagues so whatever.

 

[drcats2013]

YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES I CAN!!!!! I NEED TO KNOW!!!!!!!

 

[TNCatfanforever]

The Herald Leader was about to nail him on some stuff. Selling tickets for personal gain. Plus they had their big expose coming up. He got out right before the crap hit the fan.

The 100 dollar handshakes as well

 

[YouKay]

Failing to win a Final Four with Sam Bowie, and then the epic choke against Georgetown in the 1984 Final Four spelled the end for Coach Hall. People became convinced he would never win another championship. The Big East and ACC were getting all the top recruits. He just wore out from the pressure to win, and stepped down.

 

[miracle7s]

Coach Hall was the bag man for Rupp, Leonard Hamilton was the bag man for Joe B, but he got run out because he played a style that people hated for the most part and really had trouble winning the "big ones". As someone mentioned Joe B doing that radio show and kind of being the lovable country grandpa did wonders for his image here.

 

[true blue1]

I'm only 24, so I have no real information or insight as to why he stopped being the coach of our beloved Wildcats.

His last 3 years were Elite 8, Final 4, Sweet 16. Though he went 18-13 the last year, it seems like he was putting out good teams every year and was bringing in top talent?(I could be wrong). He was only in his mid to late 50's in age. What was the story behind him leaving? Was he pushed out or did he just want to leave? Was there too much pressure following Rupp?

He was pushed out, good recruiter, fans and Administrators thought, he underachieved as a coach with the talent he had.

 

[Chuckinden]

Joe B had inside info that Al Gore was inventing the internet.

 

[Cychologist]

I don't recall the Herald Leader ever laying anything on Hall. The $100 handshake stuff was blamed on rogue fans.

Hall took a lot of criticism, partly because he wasn't Rupp. Rupp didn't want to abide by the state mandatory age and let it be known. So Halll was never accepted by many of the old gang, although his record for his 13 years was actually better than Rupp's last 13 years.

I think Hall just got tired of the stress and crap that he took from fans.

 

[EvilMD]

U of L had Crum. IU had Knight. We had Hall. It was clear we were third in that contest. From 1980-1987 Crum and Knight won four of the eight championships. Crum had four Final Fours in that span. If U of L and IU were struggling I believe there would have been a LOT less pressure on Joe B.

 

[tapemaster8]

U of L had Crum. IU had Knight. We had Hall. It was clear we were third in that contest. From 1980-1987 Crum and Knight won four of the eight championships. Crum had four Final Fours in that span. If U of L and IU were struggling I believe there would have been a LOT less pressure on Joe B.

If I remember right coach Hall's wife Katherine had been diagnosed with cancer at that time too!

 

[KingOfBBN]

This was a thread discussed last year about it.
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/...was-not-entirely-his-own-choice.194295/page-2

The $100 handshakes and dirtiness was not "rogue fans." Let's not be that group like UNC is right now.

And yes, the LHL won a Pulitzer in 1985 regarding issues while Hall was there. Link to that SI article refercing it. The NCAA did say that we cooperated more than anyone had and referenced that we came "four feet" from getting the death penalty.

https://www.si.com/vault/1989/05/29...operating-the-wildcats-stayed-their-execution

LA Times article from 85 talking about it.

http://articles.latimes.com/1985-10-28/sports/sp-11801_1_kentucky-s-basketball

 

[clevenger32]

Coach Hall followed a legend.

Coach Hall coached for 12 years

He won 9 SEC Championships

Graduated all but a few of his players

Won an NIT Championship when it still mattered

Went to three Final Fours

Won a National Championship

--------------------------------

How did those that followed John Wooden at UCLA do?

How did those that followed Bob Knight at Indiana do?

----------------------------------

Coach Hall did a great job of elevating the UK program.

In my opinion, after Coach Rupp, and Cal, the third best coach in UK history. Nobody cared more about the program than Joe B.

 

[Col. Angus]

Very good question by the op.

Don't think Joe had health problems, considering he's now 117 years old and still getting around.

that Band-aid on his forehead is gaining some serious mileage.

 

[Col. Angus]

Where's the evidence for this. You don't accuse the Colonel without proof.

you don't ever accuse a colonel, period. Colonels are without rules and regulations. Colonel Angus has no enemies, cept those that dislike the smell of raw fish. I can tell ya that much.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Coach Hall followed a legend.

Coach Hall coached for 12 years

He won 9 SEC Championships

Graduated all but a few of his players

Won an NIT Championship when it still mattered

Went to three Final Fours

Won a National Championship

--------------------------------

How did those that followed John Wooden at UCLA do?

How did those that followed Bob Knight at Indiana do?

----------------------------------

Coach Hall did a great job of elevating the UK program.

In my opinion, after Coach Rupp, and Cal, the third best coach in UK history. Nobody cared more about the program than Joe B.

I can't rank him ahead of Pitino. Pitino had just as many Final Fours and title game appearances and a title in 6 years. I respectfully agree to disagree. No harm in being ranked 4th behind Rupp, Calipari and Pitino though.

 

[Titles1]

He was pushed out, good recruiter, fans and Administrators thought, he underachieved as a coach with the talent he had.

Sounds familiar.

 

[Ripcord65]

(1) No. 8 U.K. loss to UAB 69-62 in the NCAA Second Round, 1981.
(2) No. 15 U.K. loss to Middle Tennessee 50-44 in the NCAA First Round, 1982.
(3) Hall’s terrible coaching of Derrick Hord that ruined an All-American – from the middle of the
1981-82 season through Hord’s entire senior year in 1982-83.
(4) Getting beaten by 12 points in OT vs. U. of L. in the Elite Eight in 1983.
(4) Ignominious loss to Georgetown in the 1984 Final Four.
(5) Unranked team in 1984-85 with Kenny Walker (Jr.), Roger Harden (Jr.), Winston Bennett
(Soph.), James Blackmon (Soph.) and Ed Davender (Fr.). (Sutton went 32-4 with a No. 3
ranking and an Elite Eight appearance with essentially the same team in 1985-86.)

 

[morgousky]

If Cal is above reproach, and let's face it, there's about 60% of the board who believe he is, then Hall should be extremely close to untouchable. Personally I think Cal needs to put together another final four or title before he eclipsed Hall all together. It's essentially 1a and 1b. He probably will by the 13th year mark if he stays though.

Hall had a brutal way through. People think following Cal will be tough? Try following a man with 4 titles. If you don't get that then you're in denial about the man and his situation.

College administrations were incredibly liberal in the way they ran athletics back then. Everyone who was winning was cheating. Everyone. Kentucky was hated then just like now and were held to a standard unlike others. The playing field was even as far as I'm concerned.

Hall was a good man and without him we simply are not the program we are today. In a lot of ways, he's as important as Rupp.

Give Respect.

 

[thepip]

Joe and Denny had a radio program that kept getting in the way of games. Unless games were at night he had to miss due to the callers to The Denny and Joe Show.

 

[childe]

U of L had Crum. IU had Knight. We had Hall. It was clear we were third in that contest. From 1980-1987 Crum and Knight won four of the eight championships. Crum had four Final Fours in that span. If U of L and IU were struggling I believe there would have been a LOT less pressure on Joe B.

I agree. And in the SEC, LSU was adding to the pressure with teams that were winning SEC regular season championships and a making couple of Final Four runs in the NCAA Tournament. And Dale Brown did nothing to endear himself to UK fans during this time.

 

[chevyman 50]

Joe B. did not win enough games for the 5 stars players he had the fan base pretty much forced him out I thank, the coach down at Fla. St L. Hamiton was his assistance at that time, was a great recruiter.

 

[musrat59]

Coach Hall wanted to go where the money is so he got himself a banking job.

 

[Wall2Boogie]

Never realized he retired that young. In today's era he would still be coaching. It had to be hard for him to follow the baron which will be equally as hard to follow cal although cal will have a huge say in his successor as I feel he will hand pick him. Cal is right around that age now and you gotta figure he will coach atleast another ten years. I really wish he would coach as long or longer as splinter has. K is 70 he can't keep up with the times for much longer given the state of college basketball and where he comes from under the infamous bobby knight whonyou know probably can't stand how k has had to adjust to the OAD rule and the players he chooses but you will never hear saint bobby say anything negative about coach k

 

[EvilMD]

If Cal is above reproach, and let's face it, there's about 60% of the board who believe he is, then Hall should be extremely close to untouchable. Personally I think Cal needs to put together another final four or title before he eclipsed Hall all together. It's essentially 1a and 1b. He probably will by the 13th year mark if he stays though.

Hall had a brutal way through. People think following Cal will be tough? Try following a man with 4 titles. If you don't get that then you're in denial about the man and his situation.

College administrations were incredibly liberal in the way they ran athletics back then. Everyone who was winning was cheating. Everyone. Kentucky was hated then just like now and were held to a standard unlike others. The playing field was even as far as I'm concerned.

Hall was a good man and without him we simply are not the program we are today. In a lot of ways, he's as important as Rupp.

Give Respect.

1. I love Coach Hall. I just don't think he was an elite coach. I love Tubby. Same thing. Cal is an elite coach. Coach Hall's NCAA track record was similar to that of Bill Self's.
2. It was even harder following Rupp because Rupp was undermining Hall behind the scenes at first.

 

[mdlUK.1]

If the Internet had been around, Joe B would have never made it to 78. The call in shows were brutal.

 

[EvilMD]

(1) No. 8 U.K. loss to UAB 69-62 in the NCAA Second Round, 1981.
(2) No. 15 U.K. loss to Middle Tennessee 50-44 in the NCAA First Round, 1982.
(3) Hall’s terrible coaching of Derrick Hord that ruined an All-American – from the middle of the
1981-82 season through Hord’s entire senior year in 1982-83.
(4) Getting beaten by 12 points in OT vs. U. of L. in the Elite Eight in 1983.
(4) Ignominious loss to Georgetown in the 1984 Final Four.
(5) Unranked team in 1984-85 with Kenny Walker (Jr.), Roger Harden (Jr.), Winston Bennett
(Soph.), James Blackmon (Soph.) and Ed Davender (Fr.). (Sutton went 32-4 with a No. 3
ranking and an Elite Eight appearance with essentially the same team in 1985-86.)

1. He deserved criticism for this one. We beat UAB in Alaska early in that season. UAB went on to face Indiana, and the Hoosiers beat them by 20+ points.
2. Many people wondered if Hall threw this game. Such a crappy end to a once promising season. We lost the SEC championship at home to Alabama, who we had beaten twice that year.
3. We lost this game because Hall waited too long to throw over the press. He simply got outcoached.'
4. I think we got three fouls on Ewing in the first half and had a 12-point lead. Again, what the hell happened?
5. We got a break even getting into the tournament. Florida had a better record than we did and beat us two out of three games that year, and they didn't get in.