William Oliver Hamilton was the Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas Jayhawks

The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...

' third head basketball coach, from 1910 to 1919. Coach Hamilton bridged the gap between Phog Allen

Phog Allen

Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen was an American basketball and baseball player, coach of American football, basketball, and baseball, college athletics administrator, and osteopathic physician...

's two tenures as Kansas' coach.

Hamilton came to the University of Kansas

University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...

 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

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

, Mo., and acted in the same capacity at William Jewell College

William Jewell College

William Jewell College is a private, four-year liberal arts college of 1,100 undergraduate students located in Liberty, Missouri, U.S. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and other civic leaders, including Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and father of the...

 in Liberty, Mo.

Hamilton's teams compiled a 125-59 (.679) overall record and were 83-46 (.643) in conference. The Hamilton-led Jayhawks captured five Missouri Valley Conference

Missouri Valley Conference

The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...

championships, including three straight from 1910-1912. Under his guidance three players achieved All-American status: Tommy Johnson in 1909 (KU's first All-American in any sport), Ralph "Lefty" Sproull in 1915 and A. C. "Dutch" Lonborg in 1919.