{"id":85351,"date":"2025-03-11T21:58:30","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T02:58:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/leonard-hamilton-profoundly-sums-up-career-final-game-at-florida-state\/"},"modified":"2025-03-11T21:58:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T02:58:30","slug":"leonard-hamilton-profoundly-sums-up-career-final-game-at-florida-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/leonard-hamilton-profoundly-sums-up-career-final-game-at-florida-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Leonard Hamilton profoundly sums up career, final game at Florida State"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1971, Leonard Hamilton<\/a><\/strong> got his first college coaching job as an assistant coach at Austin Peay<\/strong> just before his 23rd birthday. It was the start of a career that took him to Kentucky<\/a><\/strong>, Oklahoma State<\/a><\/strong>, Miami<\/a><\/strong> and the NBA<\/strong> before he became synonymous with Florida State<\/a><\/strong> basketball.<\/p>\n

Tuesday, more than 50 years after he first sat on the bench as a coach, Hamilton walked off the court for the final time. Florida State, despite a furious comeback, fell to Syracuse<\/a><\/strong> in the ACC tournament. Last month, Hamilton said he planned to step down at season\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

Tuesday night was that moment. Hamilton looked around the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, waving to the crowd a he went back for one final postgame speech to his team. But as he looked back on his career, he spoke about what it meant to make such an impact as a coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been blessed to have an opportunity that not very many people ever have, to work with young people when they\u2019re at their most vulnerable time \u2013 when they\u2019re 17, 18 years old,\u201d Hamilton told ACC Network\u2019s Angel Gray<\/strong> afterward. \u201cBeing a part of helping them grow and trying to give them some direction to how they\u2019re having to progress in their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy in some ways that I\u2019m going to find another way to contribute and work with youngsters. I have some things in mind I want to do. But I\u2019ve been blessed, and I\u2019ve enjoyed the ride. It\u2019s time to move on to the next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leonard Hamilton puts bow on historic career<\/h2>\n

Hamilton is a college basketball trailblazer. As a player at UT-Martin<\/strong>, he was first Black player to ever play in the program. When he joined Joe B. Hall\u2019s<\/strong> staff at Kentucky in 1974, he became the first Black assistant coach in SEC history, and he stayed with the Wildcats until 1986 when he took over at Oklahoma State.<\/p>\n

After four years with the Cowboys, Hamilton left for Miami, where he build the Hurricanes into a Sweet Sixteen program in 2000. That led him to the NBA with the Wizards, but after just one year, he returned to the college game at FSU. He built the program from the ground up, taking the Seminoles to 12 20-win seasons.<\/p>\n

But despite the on-court achievements, Hamilton said his biggest responsibility as a coach was to prepare get athletes ready for the next phases of their lives \u2013 whether it\u2019s on the basketball court or in life. As he looked back, that\u2019s what he was most proud to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m most grateful for the fact that the last 23 years, we\u2019ve only had one or two kids not graduate at Florida State that\u2019s with us for four years,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cTo me, that\u2019s probably the most important thing we do as coaches. We get recognized for coach of the year awards and all the awards and stuff like that, but in reality, the most important thing is you really play a major part in helping not only this youngster, but his family, his kids. And then, they\u2019ll go on and help someone else. Because that\u2019s the most important thing, especially in the climate that we have now in college sports. You see that graduating and rates are not as much of an issue as other things might be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt that I\u2019ve been true to my values, and I hope that I\u2019ve helped some youngsters and I hope that I\u2019ve done the very best I can for Florida State and all the other places I\u2019ve been. I\u2019m leaving with a smile on my face, but I\u2019m more blessed realizing I\u2019ve just had this unique and special opportunity. And I\u2019ll cherish that forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018I think Florida State basketball\u2019s in good hands\u2019<\/h2>\n

Now, Leonard Hamilton is preparing to pass the torch to one of his former players. Luke Loucks<\/a><\/strong> will succeed him after Florida State announced his hiring last week. A longtime NBA assistant, he saw firsthand what it takes to build the Seminoles program.<\/p>\n

During the interview process, Loucks said he was in touch with Hamilton, and he hopes his mentor will come back around when he can. As for the future of the program, Hamilton has Loucks\u2019 back.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt that Luke will understand the culture that you must build in order to be successful in the program,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cIt\u2019s not only on the basketball court, but it\u2019s in so many other ways \u2013 academically, socially, on the court, off the court, how you conduct yourself.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mindset you have to have to develop to become the best player you can become. He understands that totally. And I think Florida State basketball\u2019s in good hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post Leonard Hamilton profoundly sums up career, final game at Florida State<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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