Florida State Basketball Trainer Leonard Hamilton resigns

On February 4, 2025By Littum

Leonard Hamilton-the Trailblazing, constantly winning men’s basketball trainer in the FSU-history-moving in the midst of recognition from the top officials.

Leonard Hamilton -This all the time winning most men’s basketball trainer at Florida State University History, who also played a remarkable role in breaking the break in the sport both as a player and coach-free traiter seminoles’ main coach effective at the end of the season, his 23. At school, at school, Has the Tallahasee -Democrat learned.

After months of discussion with FSU leadership, Hamilton, 76, announced his resignation on Monday afternoon.

“I am deeply grateful for the enormous support of our fans, alumni and everyone affiliated with Florida State throughout my time here,” Hamilton said in a statement released by the university.

“I am proud of the quality of the young men that it was my privilege to lead, for their belief in this program and in their belief in philosophy, as we tried to instill them over the years. I have been blessed beyond words for the opportunity and the experience we have had here. “

Hamilton’s resignation comes two days after Seminole’s tumbled to their fourth defeat in a row as they spread an eight-point lead in the last minute and lost at Boston College, 77-76. FSU is 13-9 overall and 4-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference plays on the way into Tuesday’s home game against Notre Dame (10-11, 4-6) at. 7pm

Hamilton, in the last year of a five-year contract extension that pays him $ 2.25 million annually plus bonuses, has been a cornerstone of Tallahasee and College Basketball. He has also coached in an era at FSU that contained other iconic coaches Bobby Bowden in Football and Mike Martin in Baseball.

“My family and I really love this place, this institution and its people. I am very lucky to have given this job all without regret, ”Hamilton said.

“Each head coach inherits a legacy and is obliged to leave the job better than they inherited it. I am very proud of what we have been able to achieve here in the last 23 seasons. We were a consistent competitor and we created Success for our players in their time here.

It seems that Hamilton is keeping his opportunities open to the future as he did not mention retirement in the university’s release. Hamilton could also remain involved as an adviser to athletics on men’s basketball questions, according to FSU sources.

FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford said the university will immediately begin a national search for Hamilton’s successor.

“Leonard Hamilton’s personal character and integrity and his leadership set a huge standard for all FSU athletics,” Alford said. “Few people have been just as important to build the positive reputation of Seminole Athletics as he. FSU’s stature as one of the leading brands in college sports has partially been possible for his leadership of our men’s basketball program.

“He steadily developed a culture of expertise that reflects his personal values: commitment to academic success, competitive success, community service, leadership and continuous personal expertise. The success of the men who have been part of our basketball program is proof of this inheritance ”

FSU’s Leonard Hamilton ranks 10. All the time in victories among active coaches

FSU opened this season with lots of promise of 13-5. However, the seminols have not been able to maintain their momentum. They have nine regular seasonal matches, including back-to-back matches against visiting North Carolina February 24 and on Duke on March 1st. FSU has five home matches left.

Earlier this season, six former FSU players sued Hamilton and claimed he failed to make a promise to get each of them $ 250,000 in the name, image and equality compensation. The trial is the latest in a growing number of zero -lawful blows.

As the main coach at FSU, Hamilton has collected a total record of 434-290, including a brand of 196-186 in ACC Regular seasonal games. Hamilton has led seminoles to 16 autumn period and 12 20-win seasons.

He is currently ranking 10. On NCAA’s list of winning Active Division I coaches and is fifth all the time in ACC behind Mike Krzyzewski from Duke, Roy Williams and Dean Smith of North Carolina and Gary Williams from Maryland.

Hamilton is the longest-rented men’s basketball trainer in ACC and the second-old Active Division I-coach leading Seminoles to three NCAA Tournament Sweet 16S (2011, 2019, 2021) and One Elite Eight (2018).

“Leonard Hamilton is a lighthouse for class and integrity whose leadership acts as an indelible example of competitive expertise, academic performance and community service can be achieved at a leading public institution,” said FSU president Dr. Richard McCullough.

“Coach Hamilton’s heritage extends far beyond Tallahasee and College Basketball. He is one of the most respected and beloved ambassadors in FSU across the country and in his profession. “

Alford is convinced that Seminoles will attract a quality candidate to replace Hamilton.

“I’m excited about the future of men’s basketball in Florida State,” Alford said. “Thanks to coach Hamilton’s excellent management and management, it is proven that Florida State can be a challenger in ACC and nationally. I look forward to continuing to build on what he has achieved here when we identify the next leader of our program. “

FSU -men Basketball Trainer Leonard Hamilton: ‘I was built for this’

In his 37^Th Season as a college coach, Hamilton-Inborn in Gastonia, North Carolina-Can boast of a career record of a 634-500 (.559 winning percentage) to rank among the 100 largest winning across all NCAA levels.

Hamilton led FSU to his first ACC championship ever in 2012 and led Seminoles to a school record four consecutive NCAA tournament performance from 2009-12. During a five-year period from 2015 to 2020, the FSU 124-48 went, punctured by the program’s first ACC title in regular season in 2019-20.

Previously stop includes Oklahoma State (1986-1990) and Miami (1990-2000), where he was UPI National Coach of the Year in 1995. Hamilton has earned three National Coach of the Year Honors and was named this year’s conference coach. five times. He is the only person who earns more coach of the year heals in both ACC and Big East.

Hamilton also coached Washington Wizards in the 2000-01 season with Michael Jordan as the team’s president of basketball operations.

While Hamilton has preferred to look at his performance as a trailblazing black trainer and plays in a different way, his influence has been significant.

He was the first black player in Tennessee-Martin and was SEC’s first black assistant when Joe B. Hall hired him in Kentucky in 1974. Hamilton was part of Kentucky team who won a national championship in 1978 and went to Final Four In 1984.

“I’ve always been reluctant to put labels. Some kinds of labels mean certain things to different people, “Hamilton told the Democrat in a previous interview.

“I just think I was very lucky to come up with at a time when the possibilities were not so accessible to African American guys, but I always seemed to have been able to slip into situations that were available, I’ve always felt A hedge of protection around me. I have always felt that my steps have always been ordered …

“I was built for this.”

Leonard Hamilton’s FSU -Basketball team known for defense

Hamilton’s FSU team has been known for cunning team defense, athletics, winning mentality and academics.

Nineteen players have been NBA draft elections, with almost half (nine) in the first round, headed by No. 4 Total selection of Patrick Williams in 2020 and Scottie Barnes in 2021. He has coached 24 All-ACC selections, 13 ACC All -defensive team selection, four ACC Sixth Man of the Year recipients and two ACC Defensive Players of the Year.

And 97% of Hamilton’s players who have spent four years at FSU are trained. His team produced a program record 3.16 average grades in the spring of 2023, highlighted by 10 individual GPAs of at least 3.0.

Hamilton’s legacy also extends nationally, as 12 of his former assistants have been the head coach of the division at level.

Hamilton won his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Tennessee-Martin in 1971 and received his master’s degree in physical and health education from Austin Peay State in 1973. He has been introduced to seven different fame halls, including Miami and FSU.

Outside of basketball, two of Hamilton’s greatest passions are his family and gospel music. When asked how he measures success, Hamilton quickly points to his players.

“I have a lot of trophies, prices and rings, but what I enjoy most is attending (playing) weddings, getting calls for Father’s Day, guys seeking advice on bigger decisions. These are the coaching rewards, ”Hamilton told the Florida Times Union in a previous interview.

“If I only evaluate my success with NCAA Tours and Coach of the Year Awards, I can’t look at myself in the mirror. If I do not affect young men to grow with the tools I have been given, I have not done my job. You take people in the most important part of their lives – teens who go to adult age – and try to develop not only basketball players, but good men, fathers and citizens.

“That part of the process goes unnoticed.”

Here is FSU -coach Leonard Hamilton’s career -Hægsktning

Winningest Coach in Florida State History
5. All-time Winningest Coach in ACC History
1995 Upi National Coach of the Year
2000 BCA National Coach of the Year
2009 Basketball Times National Coach of the Year
2018 Clarence “Big House” Gaines National Coach of the Year
2021 Ben Jobe National Minority Coach of the Year
2009, 2012 and 2020 ACC Coach of the Year
1995 and 1999 Big East Coach of the Year
2016-17 Midseason National Coach of the Year

Here are accs all the time winning most men’s basketball trainer

Mike Krzyzewski -1981-2022 (42 years): 1.129-309
Dean Smith -1962-1997 (36 years): 879-254
Roy Williams -2004-2021 (18 years): 485-163
Gary Williams -1990-2011 (22 years): 461-252
Leonard Hamilton -2003 power (22 years): 434-290

Jim Henry is the sports editor of the Tallahasee -Democrat. E -Mail him on [email protected].