UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 2003
Page 1 of 2
XXXX 3/5/2025 3:19 PM Jacketed
A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Jim 1
Hatfield. 2
WHEREAS, Jim Hatfield, also known as "Coach" was born in Maryville, 3
Tennessee, and played college basketball at East Tennessee State University, graduating 4
in 1966; and 5
WHEREAS, after starting his coaching career at Birmingham Southern University, 6
Jim Hatfield became an assistant basketball coach for the University of Kentucky (UK) 7
under legendary coach Joe B. Hall from 1972 to 1974; and 8
WHEREAS, in 1975, Jim Hatfield was hired to rebuild the scandal plagued 9
program at the Southwestern Louisiana, which had received a "death penalty" from the 10
National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) for recruiting and academic 11
violations, effectively suspending the program for two seasons; and 12
WHEREAS, in three seasons at Southwestern Louisiana, Jim Hatfield led a 13
remarkable rebuild, winning 21 games in 1977 and leading the Ragin' Cajuns to a 14
Southland Conference title; and 15
WHEREAS, Jim Hatfield became the head basketball coach at Mississippi State 16
University in 1978. In his first year at the school, the Bulldogs won 19 games and 17
finished third in the Southeastern Conference; and 18
WHEREAS, Jim Hatfield returned to Lexington as an assistant coach in 1983 and 19
helped lead the Wildcats to the NCAA Final Four in 1984; and 20
WHEREAS, Jim Hatfield became the head basketball coach and athletic director at 21
the University of the Virgin Islands, building the program and enriching the community; 22
and 23
WHEREAS, after retiring from coaching, Jim Hatfield returned to Lexington with 24
his wife Faye, and continued to support UK athletics; and 25
WHEREAS, Jim Hatfield passed away on February 26, 2025, at Central Baptist 26
Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 81; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 2003
Page 2 of 2
XXXX 3/5/2025 3:19 PM Jacketed
WHEREAS, in addition to his wife, Jim Hatfield is survived by his sister, Doris 1
Sullivan; three children, Angie Nemecek, Jim Hatfield, and Lisa Hatfield; and eight 2
grandchildren, Michael, Dylan, Grace, William, Jax, Preston, Andrew, and Anna; and 3
WHEREAS, Jim Hatfield's legacy lives on in the dozens of young men he coached 4
and molded through the years, the lives he touched, and the indelible impact he made; 5
NOW, THEREFORE, 6
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 7
Kentucky: 8
Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby extend their most profound 9
sympathy upon the passing of Jim Hatfield, and posthumously honor his achievements. 10
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving 11
memory of Jim Hatfield. 12
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 13
Resolution to Senator Greg Elkins for delivery to the family. 14