Basil Hayden

Basil Hayden
A young man in a sleeveless shirt with the word "Kentucky" on it holds a cup-like trophy in front of his stomach and stares intently at the camera
Basil Hayden in 1921, after winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships
Biographical details
Born(1899-05-19)May 19, 1899
Stanford, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedJanuary 9, 2003(2003-01-09) (aged 103)
Paris, Kentucky, U.S.
Playing career
1919–1922Kentucky
Position(s)Forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1922–1923Kentucky Wesleyan
1923–1926George Rogers Clark HS
1926–1927Kentucky
Head coaching record
Overall11–14 (college only)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
SIAA (1921)
Awards
All-American (1921)

Basil Ewing Hayden (May 19, 1899 – January 9, 2003) was an American college basketball player and coach. A Kentucky native, he began playing the sport in the sixth grade and, after a year at Transylvania University, transferred to the University of Kentucky to study chemistry and play on the school's basketball squad. He captained the team to victory at the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship and was named an All-American for his efforts – the first basketball player to earn the honor at the University of Kentucky.

After graduating in 1922 Hayden took on a number of different jobs and was called to coach the University of Kentucky's basketball team in 1926 following the departure of Ray Eklund. After a 3–13 record in his first year he was replaced with John Mauer and returned to his previous occupations. When he died in 2003, at the age of 103, he was the University of Kentucky's oldest former athlete, and his jersey is among those hung in the school's Rupp Arena.