WILDCAT
COACHING ASSISTANTS
DICK PARSONS, Assistant Coach
Entering his fifth year as Joe Hall's top assistant is Dick Parsons, a native Kentuckian who gained academic and athletic distinction at both the University and Harlan High School.
An organizer who goes about his duties with a flair lor efficient productivity, Parsons is in charge ol the pre-season conditioning program as well as handling scouting assignments and purchasing equipment.
Parsons returned to the University in 1969 as head baseball coach and before giving up that position to join basketball on a full time basis, molded a team (1971) which established or tied 15 school records.
He first came to UK in 1958 after an outstanding career as a four-sports star at Harlan 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. He scored a career high 21 points against Mississippi as a sophomore.
He holds the distinction of captaining two varsity sports at UKbasketball and baseball.
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.
Holding more Wildcat baseball records than any other player, he was an All-Conlerence shortstop in 1959 and 1961, All-NCAA District 1960, '61, and All-American '61. He hit .400 his'senior year.
He was an assistant football coach at Glasgow High School two years and baseball and basketball coach at Boyle County High from 1963 to 1968.
While working on his Master's Degree at the University in 1968-69, he scouted, recruited and helped with the Wildcat freshmen, later accepting a part-time assis-tantship in basketball in addition to his baseball job.
He is married to the former Celia Cawood of Harlan. They have a daughter, Kathy, 10, anil a son, Ed, 13.
LEONARD HAMILTON, Assistant Coach
An energetic young coach on the move is Leonard Hamilton, who begins his third year at the University alter a three-year tenure at Austin Peay State University.
A defensive coaching specialist who can demonstrate on the court as well as illustrate on the blackboard, Hamilton has had a positive impact on Wildcat defensive philosophy.
A native of Gastonia, N.C. he lettered three-years in iootball and twice in basketball as a prepster. 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.
He graduated from University of Tennessee-Martin in 1970, where he was team captain, led in assists and steals, most valuable defensive player, and 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, 6.
JIM LONG, Assistant Coach
A native of Detroit, Mich., Jim Long joined the UK staff last year as junior varsity coach and scout on a part-time basis.
A 1965 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Mich., he won two letters in basketball and three in tennis.
He completed requirements for a B.S. degree in Foreign Language (German) and a teaching certificate from the University ol Michigan in 1970.
Alter 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 ol 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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