Cliff Hagan: key obituary facts
Is Cliff Hagan dead? Yes. Cliff Hagan died on October 15, 2026, at age 94.
Cause of death: Cliff Hagan's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Cliff Hagan known for?
He was an American basketball player and coach.
More about Cliff Hagan
Born: 9 December 1931.
Place of birth: Owensboro.
Gender: male.
Occupation: basketball player, basketball coach.
Nationality: United States.
Education: University of Kentucky, Owensboro High School.
Career began: 1956.
Career ended: 1969.
Also known as: Clifford Oldham Hagan.
Clifford Oldham Hagan, the American Hall of Fame basketball player, died October 15, 2026, aged 94.
Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, he attended Owensboro High School and the University of Kentucky, where he won an NCAA championship with the Wildcats in 1951. A 6-foot-4 small forward known for his hook shot and nicknamed “Li’l Abner,” Hagan began his professional career in 1956.
He played all 10 of his NBA seasons with the St. Louis Hawks, from 1956 to 1966, and was selected as an NBA All-Star five times. The Hawks won the NBA championship in 1958, adding a professional title to Hagan’s college championship. After his NBA years, Hagan joined the Dallas Chaparrals as a player-coach during the early seasons of the American Basketball Association; he was also an ABA All-Star. His playing career connected three distinct stages of the sport: the Kentucky Wildcats, the Hawks and the Chaparrals. Hagan married Martha on September 4, 1954. His career as a player and coach began in 1956, and his record included championship honors at both the college and professional levels, All-Star recognition in the NBA and ABA, and a decade with the same NBA franchise.