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Kentucky State University Athletic Director William Graham recently announced his upcoming retirement from the University.

Graham, athletic director since 2016, is a long-time Kentucky State employee, Hall-of-Famer and University legend.

Graham served three stints at Kentucky State over a period of more than 30 years. His Kentucky State career began on the hardwood as a student-athlete.

During his time as a student-athlete, Kentucky State won NAIA national championships in 1970 and 1971. He served as captain and was named the team’s most inspirational player in 1971.

After his collegiate playing days, he was drafted in 1971 by the Denver Rockets of the ABA and the Phoenix Suns of the NBA. He eventually signed with the Suns.

In 1976, Graham returned to the Hill as an assistant coach for men’s basketball and baseball for two seasons, which led to an assistant men’s basketball coach position at Alabama State until 1989. While at ASU, the Hornets reached a number-one ranking in the NAIA and were runners-up in the 1980 NAIA championship tournament.

Graham came back to Kentucky State in 1989 to serve as the head coach of the men’s basketball team, which he coached until 1996. Following his coaching career, he was named assistant director of the William Exum Center. In 2004, he was appointed director of the Exum Center, a position he held for more than 12 years until he was named director of athletics in 2016.

Graham currently or previously served on numerous boards and committees including the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches, the Kentucky State University Alumni Association, the Kentucky State University K-Club, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the National Intramural-Recreation Sports Association.

Graham is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is married to Lillian Graham. They are the parents of Erica, Courtney and William III.