In a release by the program on Monday, Florida State confirms that men’s basketball head coach Leonard Hamilton will step down at the end of this season. The Seminole basketball’s all-time winningest coach has led the program for the past 23 seasons, guiding them to 16 post-season appearances and 12 20-win seasons. Hamilton is the fifth-winningest coach in ACC history and tenth in NCAA history among active Division 1 coaches with a career record of 434-290.
Under Hamilton’s tenure, the Seminoles have produced 19 NBA Draft picks, 24 All-ACC selections, 4 Sixth Man of the Year recipients, and had a nearly 97% graduation rate by those who completed their eligibility.
Coach Hamilton released the following statement on the decision. “I am deeply thankful for the tremendous support of our fans, alumni, and everyone associated with Florida State throughout my time here. I am proud of the quality of the young men that it was my privilege to lead, for their faith in this program and in their belief in the philosophy that we tried to instill in them over the years. I have been blessed beyond words for the opportunity and the experience we’ve had here.”
“My family and I truly love this place, this institution, and its people. I’m very fortunate to be able to have given this job my all with no regrets. Every head coach inherits a legacy and is obligated to leave the job better than they inherited it. I’m very proud of what we have been able to accomplish here over the last 23 seasons. We were a consistent contender, and we created success for our players during their time here. So many of them have gone on to be successful in life. I hope that it will be remembered as my legacy. I look forward to working with our administration during this transition and being as helpful as possible through this process.”
Despite, Hamilton’s long and successful career at a school that is not known as a “basketball school,” the program has struggled to produce in recent years. Over the past 4 seasons, the Seminoles have not finished with a winning record in ACC play and only made the NCAA tournament once during that time.
The decision comes on the heels of a fourth consecutive loss, three of which were teams with a losing record in ACC play, as the Noles are currently just 4-7 in conference matchups this season. Many FSU fans, we included, felt it was time for the program to head in a new direction. Leonard Hamilton is now 76 years old and in the final year of his contract. FSU is facing a time when it needs success from its basketball program, so it is as good a time as any to make the change.
According to AD Michael Alford, Florida State will immediately conduct a national search to find his successor. Former Seminoles, Luke Loucks and Sam Cassel, as well as long-time assistant Dennis Gates (Current HC at Missouri), are names that have begun to surface among FSU fans and on social media.
We want to thank Coach Hamilton for his many years of service in Tallahassee and for being a great ambassador of not only the basketball program but the university as well. Go Noles!
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