After a successful 23-year tenure, Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton announced his retirement, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and unwavering commitment to the Seminole basketball program.
Leonard Hamilton, the winningest coach in Florida State history, announced Monday that he will be stepping down at the end of the season, concluding a 23-year tenure with the Seminoles. The 76-year-old Hamilton departs as one of the most successful coaches in ACC history, ranking among the top five in total wins. During his time in Tallahassee, he led the program to its first ACC regular-season title in 2020 and eight NCAA tournament appearances, including four trips to the second weekend.
Hamilton expressed his gratitude for the support he received throughout his years at Florida State, highlighting the quality of the young men he had the privilege to coach. He emphasized his pride in the program's accomplishments, including its consistent competitiveness and the success of its players both on and off the court. He stated his commitment to making the transition as smooth as possible for the university and the program.Hamilton's most successful period with the Seminoles spanned from 2017 to 2021, marked by three Sweet 16 appearances and an Elite Eight run in 2018. This era witnessed three top-four NCAA tournament seeds and the ACC regular-season championship in 2020. Florida State achieved at least one win in four consecutive NCAA tournaments under Hamilton's guidance. Athletic Director Michael Alford lauded Hamilton's character, integrity, and leadership, acknowledging his pivotal role in shaping the positive reputation of Seminole Athletics. He stated that Hamilton's leadership cultivated a culture of excellence that reflected his personal values: academic success, competitive success, community service, leadership, and ongoing personal excellence. Florida State has faced challenges in recent years, missing the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The Seminoles have struggled to maintain a winning record in ACC play since 2021. Despite a promising start to the current season with seven wins in their first eight games, they have since lost their last four games and currently hold a 13-9 overall record and a 4-7 mark in the ACC. University President Dr. Richard McCullough praised Hamilton's class and integrity, emphasizing his leadership as an example of how competitive excellence, academic achievement, and community service are achievable at a leading public institution. He noted that Hamilton's legacy extends far beyond Tallahassee and college basketball, recognizing him as one of the most respected and beloved ambassadors of Florida State both nationally and in his profession.Prior to joining Florida State in 2002, Hamilton served as the head coach of the Washington Wizards for one season. He also spent 10 seasons at Miami, where he led the program to three NCAA tournament appearances, and four seasons at Oklahoma State. He gained valuable experience as an assistant coach at Kentucky and Austin Peay. Hamilton joins a growing list of ACC coaches stepping down recently, following Virginia's Tony Bennett in October and Miami's Jim Larranaga in late December.
LEONARD HAMILTON FLORIDA STATE RETIREMENT COLLEGE BASKETBALL ACC COACHING LEGEND SEMINOLE ATHLETICS
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