Remembering Billy Hahn
4/10/2023 3:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Hahn played for the Terps from 1971-74 and began his coaching career after graduation. He was an assistant coach under Gary Williams at Maryland from 1989-2001 and also most recently served as an assistant under Bob Huggins at West Virginia from 2007-17. Hahn was also twice a head coach at Ohio (1986-89) and at La Salle (2001-04).
During his coaching career, Hahn coached and recruited 19 NBA players including Maryland standouts Tony Massenburg, Jerrod Mustaf, Keith Booth, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Laron Profit, Terence Morris, Obinna Ekezie, Steve Francis, Chris Wilcox, Lonny Baxter, Steve Blake, and Juan Dixon.
While at Maryland, Hahn helped the Terps reach eight straight NCAA Tournaments including the 2001 Final Four. Though he had departed College Park prior to the 2002 National Championship title run, Hahn was presented a ring along with the team for his vital role in helping assemble and coach the group.
His impact on Maryland included finishing fourth-or-higher in the ACC for eight straight seasons and then school records for regular-season wins (28) and ACC victories in a season (13) in 1999.
At West Virginia, he helped the Mountaineers win the 2010 Big East Championship and reach the NCAA Tournament nine times including the 2010 Final Four.
He was a freshman in 1971-72 when the Terps won the National Invitation Tournament and was a key reserve on the team that lost in what is considered the greatest game in ACC history (Maryland's 103-100 overtime setback against NC State in 1974).
He captained the team during his senior year in 1975. Hahn is one of only two players in Maryland basketball history to play and coach in the NCAA tournament.
A native of Mishawaka, Indiana, where he attended Penn High, Hahn is survived by his wife, Kathi, son, Matthew and his wife Christie, a daughter, Ashley and her husband Brian Calvery, and two grandchildren.
The entire Maryland community mourns the loss of a great Terp, Billy Hahn
— Maryland Men's Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) April 7, 2023
Player: 1971-74
Assistant Coach: 1989-01
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/awO50bD1q1
After a funeral for his brother in 2021, Mr. Hahn requested no services.
— Edward Lee☀️ (@EdwardLeeSun) April 10, 2023
Instead, the former @TerrapinHoops asst. coach had a request.
"This Saturday at 7 p.m., he'd like to have all his friends and family raise a glass wherever they are to celebrate a full life," his son said. https://t.co/6f2l1hP1SO
Coach Hahn will be missed 4ever!!! He challenged me to compete everyday in practices. No Days Off from competing! I tried to show him every practice that I could live up to his expectations! I hope I made him proud. RIP coach! @TerrapinHoops @TerrapinClub https://t.co/qvmGawdaZq
— Walt Williams (@WaltTheWizard42) April 8, 2023
"Everyday is another day to get better."…. "You're either praying or you're worrying, but you can't do both." - Billy Hahn…To Mrs. Kathy, Matt, Ashley & the entire Hahn family, HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES! I am certain I speak for many when I say THANK YOU for sharing Coach w/ us❤️🙏🏾 https://t.co/R4SanGhTq5
— Keith Booth (@KeithBooth) April 8, 2023
RIP to one of the realist and most passionate coaches I've ever been around. Billy Hahn was a hell of a hell of a recruiter…a huge reason I landed at the Univ. Of Maryland. Prayers and comfort to the Hahn family🙏🏾
— Duane Simpkins (@CoachDSimpkins) April 7, 2023
Wouldn't be where I am today without Coach Hahn. He was the one that believed I could play in the ACC. Way too many memories. I'm glad he knew how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. This hurts. RIP DAWG!!! https://t.co/atGizPW1pd
— Drew Nicholas (@DrewNicholas12) April 7, 2023
Billy Hahn was what coaching was all about. He loved everything about the job. Most of all he loved his family and helping change lives. RIP Coach. pic.twitter.com/erep6hb5EY
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) April 8, 2023
Billy Hahn - a teacher - a coach - a recruiter - a loyal friend ! One of the most committed , selfless coaches of our time ! He was beloved in the coaching world . Our prayers and love to Kathy and Family ! RIP "Dawg" ! @WVUhoops @TerrapinHoops @NABC1927 https://t.co/vFF3R0ooFd
— Jay Wright (@CoachJayWright) April 7, 2023
Coaches stop coaching but they never stop loving their players.❤️.I was in the hospital room yesterday when 91 year old Coach Lefty Driessel called former player, Billy Hahn, told him "it's okay to go to the Lord and I love you Billy"
— Joe Lombardi (@JoeLombardiIUP) April 7, 2023
I hope all coaches can be this guy🙏❤️✝️ pic.twitter.com/ZKMbn4OZoL
RIP Billy Hahn! As a young assistant in football at Maryland, I learned how to recruit to Maryland from Coach! He was always there to offer advice and was very passionate about the Terps. Prayers and condolences to his family, friends, and former players. https://t.co/p9HIpQIYmV
— Michael Locksley (@CoachLocks) April 7, 2023
Billy Hahn was one of a kind. He is the reason I became a college coach. Recruited to @TerrapinHoops by @GeorgeRaveling & Lefty & a national champion under @GARYWILLIAMS02. Most importantly, a dear friend to many, many. A character with character. RIP, Big Brother. pic.twitter.com/aGBd6YKZ1S
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 7, 2023
Sad heart today as we lost our dear friend Coach Billy Hahn…taught me so much about the business of @MarchMadnessMBB and what it meant to be part of the family @TerrapinHoops..love you dawg! He loved opening day @Orioles too pic.twitter.com/qyeupdQ1Tq
— Jimmy Patsos (@CoachPatsos) April 7, 2023
Sending our thoughts to the family of former Ohio head coach (1986-1989) Billy Hahn.
— Ohio Men's Basketball (@OhioMBasketball) April 8, 2023
Coach Hahn spent 1976-1989 in Athens and was an assistant on two NCAA Tournament teams at Ohio. pic.twitter.com/0xFliBF0zV
On Friday, a couple of days after suffering a heart attack, longtime Bob Huggins staff member Billy Hahn was taken off life support at Ruby Memorial Hospital.https://t.co/6PhpMaecDc
— News and Sentinel (@NewsandSentinel) April 10, 2023
TIMES-WEST VIRGINIAN COLUMN: Billy Hahn loved life and basketball, but mostly he loved people. Those who knew him remember the former WVU assistant coach who died at 69 over the weekend.https://t.co/vAqXsCqcgZ
— Bob Hertzel (@bhertzel) April 10, 2023
Billy Hahn, a former Maryland men's basketball point guard and longtime assistant coach, dies https://t.co/92dQerK713 @baltimoresun #news #baltimoresun #Maryland
— Jessica L Hunt (@Jessica_L_Hunt) April 10, 2023
I met Billy Hahn as a young, naive, JC basketball coach at Barton County. He was genuine, he was real, & very comfortable with who he was, no pretenses. That never changed throughout his life. Our profession desperately needs more people like him. Thank you Billy for being you. https://t.co/aH0bYU2VIv
— Steve Forbes (@ForbesWakeHoops) April 10, 2023
Billy Hahn was HC @OhioMBasketball, I was GA for WBB.
— Debbie Antonelli (@debbieantonelli) April 9, 2023
I sat behind him on bus to road gms.
I covered his MD & WVU teams
He called & we reconnected last March
Since, each morning he sent me prayer
If praying not worrying. If worrying not praying. #RIP Billy my friend pic.twitter.com/lZ9esZfE2b
RIP Coach Billy Hahn: I'm very sad to have learned that legendary college basketball Coach, Billy Hahn has passed away. Coach had a tremendous impact on my life. I will miss him very much! pic.twitter.com/wBa4890539
— Tamir Goodman (@TamirGoodman) April 9, 2023
THE TRUTH HERTZ ... Billy Hahn: 'He loved life. He loved basketball.' Mostly though, the former WVU assistant coach who died on Friday, loved people.https://t.co/ezUczh3CRJ
— Bob Hertzel (@bhertzel) April 9, 2023
My friend Billy Hahn passed away Friday after a massive heart attack. Billy helped Gary Williams build Maryland from the ashes as Gary's No. 1 assistant. He and Kathi fought thru her cancer battles together. Very sad day.
— John Feinstein (@JFeinsteinBooks) April 9, 2023
RIP Billy Hahn, a University of Maryland legend🙏🐢 pic.twitter.com/BZT6tA2DLh
— Coach Calvin🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@GHSCoachCalvin) April 8, 2023
Sending our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of coach Billy Hahn.
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) April 7, 2023
Forever a Mountaineer.
➡️ https://t.co/p3zS4eoGg8#HailWV pic.twitter.com/bb0voDvSGt
