Billy Hahn Obituary, Death – Longtime Maryland men’s basketball assistant coach and former point guard Billy Hahn has passed away. Matt Hahn’s lone career start for the Maryland Terrapins men’s basketball team came on March 1, 2000, against Florida State at Cole Field House in College Park. First, he entered the court with fellow seniors Juan Dixon (shooting guard), Lonny Baxter (center), Terence Morris (forward), and Danny Miller (center/forward). Since there was no dead-ball scenario in the first six minutes to warrant a media timeout, Hahn remained on the court for a lengthier period of time than normal.
Third, his father Billy Hahn was an assistant coach for the famed Gary Williams’ Terps team. From his house in Morgantown, West Virginia, Matt Hahn recounted, “I think Steve Blake or somebody was at the scorer’s table ready to check in for me, and I was dying.” My lungs were on fire and Billy Hahn was shouting at me to “suck it up.” That’s something that will always stick out in my mind. Recollections that are clear as day” Billy Hahn, a point guard for the Terps for four years and an assistant coach for Williams’ team for another 12, passed away after a heart attack on Friday at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. He was 69.
Many former players and coaches have expressed their sadness and sympathy over Mr. Hahn’s passing.
Mr. Williams expressed his sadness at the loss of his lifelong friend and colleague, noting that he was the only coach in history to be elected into both the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the same year. Mr. Williams said, “Billy was a basketball person.” Basketball and coaching were second only to his family in importance in his life. I’ve been working in this industry for 46 years, and I admire individuals with his level of dedication.
Mr. Hahn, the fourth of five children raised by farmer Dale Hahn and the former Eloise Williams in Mishawaka, Indiana, felt an obligation to assist his family on the farm. Aside from that, he was born with a basketball in his veins. According to Matt Hahn, “it was almost like Hoosiers stuff.” In the stable, he kept a rim. Therefore, he would put up cans in the barn and shoot baskets while dribbling through them. According to Hahn’s son, the senior Hahn had offers from Maryland, Michigan State, and Purdue. However, following meetings with George Raveling, an assistant coach for the Terps, and Lefty Driesell, the team’s head coach, he was convinced.