Coaching Assistants
DICK PARSONS
DICK PARSONS, who begins his fifth year as Joe B. Hall's No. 1 assistant, returned to the University as baseball coach in 1969. Before giving up his position to join basketball on a full time basis, he molded a team (1971) which established or tied 15 school records.
A mountaineer in his own right, Parsons came to the University in 1958 after an outstanding career as a four-sports star at Harlan High School, where he had a three-year basketball scoring total of 1,276 points.
A consistent player who made few mistakes at UK, Parsons was known as a fine outside shooter and for his aggressive defense during three years as a starting guard. His career high, 21 points, came against Mississippi as a sophomore.
He was a two-time (1960-61) recipient of the coveted A. B. Chandler award, given annually for the player best exemplifying the qualities of leadership, scholarship, character and ability. Only four other Wildcats have twice been so honored since the award was originated in 1951.
While working on his Master's Degree at the University in 1968-69, he scouted, recruited and helped with the Wildcat freshmen team, later accepting a part-time assistantship in basketball in addition to his baseball job.
He is married to the former Celia Cawood of Harlan. They have a daughter, Kathy, and a son, Ed.
Much of Kentucky's defensive prowess on the court can be credited to the talent of LEONARD HAMILTON, a third year assistant, who came to UK after three years as an assistant at Austin Peay State University.
In high school at Gastonia, N. C, he lettered three years in football and twice in basketball. He was basketball team captain two years at Gaston Community College in Dallas, N. C, where he scored 54 points in one game, set a record for most field goals in a season, and was All-Region and All-Tournament.
At University of TennesseeMartin, he was team captain and led in assists and steals, was most valuable defensive player, All-Conference and All-Tournament. He was elected "Mr. Volunteer" by the student body and played in the Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star game.
At Austin Peay, he coached the freshman team, scouted and recruited. During his three years there, the Governors went from last place to first in the OVC, appeared in two NCAA tournaments and were nationally ranked in scoring.
He is married to the former Claudette Hale. They have a son, Lenny.
JIM LONG
LEONARD HAMILTON
A native of Detroit, Mich., JIM LONG joined the UK staff last year as junior varsity coach and scout.
He came to the University in the fall of 1974 as a graduate student in journalism, but his past association with basketball became too much of a temptation and he soon sought out a liasion with the UK staff as a scout, which the following year blossomed into his jayvee position.
A 1965 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Mich., he twice lettered in basketball and three times in tennis.
He completed requirements for a B.S. degree in Foreign Language (German) and a teaching certificate from the University of Michigan in 1970.
After a three year teaching stint at Grand Haven, where he was head junior high and assistant varsity coach, he returned to Michigan to earn a Master's degree in Secondary Education in 1974. While working on his Masters degree, he was junior varsity coach at Saline High School.
A veteran organizer of summer basketball camps, Long worked three years at Michigan's camp and twice at Kentucky's, serving last summer as UK's camp director.
In addition to his coaching duties, Long will lend his talents to recruiting and scouting.
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