Al Hairston

Who is Al Hairston?

Alan Leroy Hairston is an American former professional basketball player and a college and high school head coach. His high school career has garnered him multiple league, district and state championships, as well as numerous individual awards.

A 6'1" guard from Bowling Green State University, Hairston was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the fifth round of the 1968 NBA Draft and by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1968 ABA draft. Hairston appeared in two seasons for the Sonics, averaging 2.2 points per game.

By far, Hairston has made his biggest contributions to the sport of basketball as a prep coach. Widely regarded as one of the best prep hoops coaches in Washington state history, Hairston achieved great success as head coach of the historically dominant boys hoops program at Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington, including guiding the program to five state titles from 1980 through 1991, and two more state runner-up appearances during the same period. He also successfully coached the Kent-Meridian and Seattle O'Dea High School boys basketball programs to post-season appearances. In assuming the O'Dea post, he took over for the late Phil Lumpkin - also a former NBA basketball player and prep coaching star.