Walt Hirsch, Kentucky basketball’s only three-time national champion, dies

Walter “Walt” Hirsch, a three-time men’s basketball national champion at the University of Kentucky, died Tuesday in Mason City, Iowa, the school announced Friday. He was 92.

Hirsch, who was at UK from 1947 to 1951, was a multi-sport athlete, also participating in baseball, and played basketball for legendary head coach Adolph Rupp. Hirsch is the only player in UK history to be a member of three national title squads.

A 6-foot-4 forward from Dayton, Ohio, Hirsch played in 13 games for the 1948 champions, scoring 37 total points. He averaged 4.6 points in 34 appearances for the 1949 title winners and then played in 30 games during the 1951 season, averaging 9.1 points per game. He was ineligible to compete in the NCAA Tournament that season as a four-year varsity player per NCAA rules at that time.

Hirsch was an All-Southeastern Conference second-team selection in 1950 after averaging 9.9 points per game, the third-highest mark on the team.

For his career, Hirsch played in 107 career games and scored 764 points.

Hirsch competed for the UK baseball team as a first baseman for four seasons.

Following his collegiate career, Hirsch joined the Army during the Korean War. Upon completion of his service, Hirsch worked at the Rath Packing Company.

He is survived by his two daughters, Pam and Nancy, and a grandson, Colin. Walt was preceded in death by his wife, Vicki.