W. O. Hamilton

Who is W. O. Hamilton?

William Oliver Hamilton was the Kansas Jayhawks' third head basketball coach, from 1910 to 1919. Coach Hamilton bridged the gap between Phog Allen's two tenures as Kansas' coach.

Hamilton came to the University of Kansas in 1909 as track and basketball coach, and accepted the athletics director's position in addition to his coaching duties. Prior to his appointment at Kansas, he served as director of physical education at Central High School in Kansas City, Mo., and acted in the same capacity at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo.

Hamilton's teams compiled a 125-59 overall record and were 83-46 in conference. The Hamilton-led Jayhawks captured five Missouri Valley Conference championships, including three straight from 1910-1912. Under his guidance three players achieved All-American status: Tommy Johnson in 1909, Ralph "Lefty" Sproull in 1915 and A. C. "Dutch" Lonborg in 1919.