Twice a Kentucky basketball assistant under Joe B. Hall, Jim Hatfield dies at 81
Jim Hatfield, who served two separate stints as an assistant basketball coach at Kentucky, as well as being a head coach at three different schools, passed away early Wednesday after a brief illness.
Hatfield, who turned 81 last December, was an assistant coach at Kentucky under Joe B. Hall from 1972-74 and then again from 1983 through 1985.
Hatfield left UK to become head coach at Southwestern Louisiana (now known as the University of Louisiana) in 1975 after the program was disbanded for two years while on NCAA probation. Hatfield led the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 47-34 record over three seasons, including a 21-8 mark in 1976-77 and a Southland Conference championship.
“We started with six players and some walk-ons and we could practice and scrimmage almost immediately after the death penalty,” Hatfield told the Daily World in 2015. “It was an exciting time for basketball in the state. Centenary, Louisiana Tech, McNeese, UNO and LSU all had great programs.”
Hatfield was hired by Mississippi State to be head coach prior to the 1978-79 season. In three years under Hatfield, the Bulldogs were 40-42 overall and 21-33 in the SEC. Hatfield’s best season in Starkville was his first when Mississippi State finished 19-9 overall and tied for third in the SEC with an 11-7 record.
Hatfield was head coach at Hardin-Simmons for two seasons, going 9-45 from 1981-82 through 1982-83.
He returned to Lexington and rejoined Hall in 1983-84 and helped coach the Wildcats to a 29-5 record, an SEC title and a Final Four berth where UK lost to eventual national champion Georgetown. Also on Hall’s staff that season were Leonard Hamilton, Lake Kelly and graduate assistant Wayne Breeden.
After Hall retired in 1985, Hatfield was basketball coach and athletic director at the University of the Virgin Islands, which at the time was attempting to become an NCAA school in the sport.
“Going to the islands rejuvenated me beyond belief,” Hatfield told the Herald-Leader in 1998. “It’s like starting over again. I feel I have the energy I had when I was 22 years old.”
After retiring from coaching, Hatfield moved back to Lexington with his wife, Faye.
Visitation for Jim Hatfield will be held at Southern Hills United Methodist Church from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 27. Funeral service will be held at Southern Hills at 1 p.m. on Friday, February 28 with visitation beforehand from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM.
