Leonard Hamilton remains deeply moved by words spoken many years ago. Whenever he reflects on those words, he takes a moment to close his eyes, places a hand over his heart, and pauses. In the early 1970s, particularly in 1973, Austin Peay made consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournaments.
At that time, the head coach Lake Kelly began attracting interest from various schools across the country. Hamilton, then a 26-year-old assistant on Kelly’s staff, was the primary recruiter. It was during this period that Hamilton decided to approach Joe Morgan, the University president, with a significant question.
Hamilton inquired whether he could potentially succeed Kelly as the head coach of Austin Peay in the event of Kelly’s departure. Even now, Hamilton remains uncertain about what compelled him to approach Morgan with such a query. It is this impulsive boldness that finds him today still situated in his office at Florida State, recounting this narrative.
Recalling the conversation, Hamilton shared that Morgan looked at him and expressed that nothing would bring him greater joy than to see Hamilton as the head coach at Austin Peay. However, Morgan revealed his imminent retirement within a couple of years and his aspiration for Hamilton to become the first black head coach in the Ohio Valley Conference. Regrettably, Morgan admitted his inability to facilitate Hamilton’s appointment.
Letting out a deep sigh, Hamilton pondered where he had drawn such audacity. The notion of being appointed as the head coach at Austin Peay seemed implausible considering the absence of black head coaches nationwide. In that moment, Hamilton did not perceive himself as a black man but rather as a man of color simply striving to fulfill his duties.
