Death of a Kentucky Icon
Cliff Hagan, a towering figure in the history of University of Kentucky Athletics, died Thursday at the age of 94. A native of Owensboro, Hagan was a national champion player at Kentucky, an Air Force veteran, an NBA champion, and served as UK athletics director from July 1975 to 1988.
Hagan was also a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. His passing marks the end of a career that spanned multiple eras of collegiate and professional sports.
Collegiate Dominance at Kentucky
Hagan entered the University of Kentucky in the fall of 1949, playing for the freshman team during the 1949-50 season. In his first varsity season, he was a key member of the squad that won the 1951 national championship under Coach Adolph Rupp.
During his collegiate career, Hagan achieved significant individual accolades. He was a first-team All-American and the leading scorer on the Wildcat squad that advanced to the NCAA East Regional final in 1952.
After an NCAA suspension sidelined Kentucky for the 1952-53 season, Hagan helped construct a 25-0 record and No. 1 national ranking in 1953-54. He was first-team All-America again during that campaign, averaging 21.6 points and 16.5 rebounds per game.
Despite the team's success, UK declined an NCAA tournament bid because rules prohibited graduate students from playing. Teammates Frank Ramsey and Lou Tsioropolous had graduated in 1953, affecting eligibility.
During Hagan’s three varsity campaigns, Kentucky won all three regular-season Southeastern Conference championships with a record of 86-5. Hagan averaged 19.2 points per game and totaled 1,475 points in 77 varsity games, remaining No. 17 on the all-time UK scoring list.
The 6-4 forward held the school rebounding record at 13.4 boards per game until Oscar Tshiebwe eclipsed the mark.
Military Service and Professional Career
Following his collegiate career, Hagan served two years of military service from 1954 to 1956 in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, where his military team won two worldwide Air Force championships.
St. Louis Hawks and NBA Success
Hagan entered the NBA in the 1956-57 season and played 10 years for the St. Louis Hawks, averaging 18 points per game. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and named to the All-NBA second team twice.
Hagan led the Hawks to the 1958 NBA crown with series wins over the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics in the finals.
Later Professional Years
After retiring from the NBA, Hagan spent one season as a television and radio commentator for the Hawks. He re-entered the pro game in 1967-68 as player-coach of the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association and was an all-star during the league’s inaugural season.
Hagan retired from playing and coaching duties during the 1969-70 season, his third year with the organization.
Legacy as Athletics Director
During Hagan’s term as athletics director, Kentucky won NCAA championships in men’s basketball (1978) and women’s cross country (1988). Under his direction, UK constructed the E.J. Nutter Football Training Facility, the Lancaster Aquatics Center, the Boone Indoor Tennis Center, lit Shively Baseball Field, and resurfaced and expanded the Shively Track.
Hagan also hired UK’s first athletics academic counselor.
Recognition of Impact
UK Athletics Director J Batt stated that few people have impacted Kentucky Athletics in as many ways as Hagan, who represented the university as a champion, Hall of Famer, and Athletics Director.