UK unveils Joe B. Hall statue outside Wildcat Coal Lodge
September 18, 2012
By Becca Clemons
On a rainy morning Tuesday, UK officials unveiled a new statue of a familiar face in front of the Wildcat Coal Lodge.
The sculpture is of former men’s basketball coach Joe B. Hall, who was head coach at UK from 1972 to 1985. A plaque also will hang outside the building.
Hall accepted the dedication with appreciation and humor.
“No one has a specific speech for an unveiling of a statue,” he said. “The pigeons will appreciate it.”
Current head coach John Calipari said Hall was among a number of coaches who have followed legends in their time, having followed Adolph Rupp. But, Calipari said, Hall made it to three Final Fours and won a national championship in his own time.
“The achievements I had at Kentucky were guaranteed by the tradition, the legacy,” Hall said.
Hall thanked fans for the “unbelievable support” a coach gets from them.
After the unveiling, Hall posed for pictures with UK officials and continued cracking jokes.
“I’ll be right here every day,” he said.