J. Kelley Hall, who coached at Cincinnati in the 2007-08 and 2008-09, died on Thursday. The cause of death was a heart attack according to a release on the Louisiana Lafayette website. He was just 51 years old.

Hall had a 26-33 record in his two seasons with the Bearcats before being fired. Former UConn player and assistant coach Jamelle Elliott was hired to replace Hall.

Here is the info on Hall's background on the official release Cincinnati put out when announcing his firing on April 10, 2009

Hall's record as the two-year UC head coach was 26-33 and his career coaching mark stands at 316-151 in 15 seasons. He became just the seventh head coach of the University of Cincinnati women's basketball program when he was introduced as the Bearcats' new mentor on April 4, 2007. Hall's previous coaching stops were at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, as head coach (2002-07), at Louisville, as associate head coach/recruiting coordinator (2000-02), and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator positions at Auburn (1996-2000), Cal State Fullerton (1994-96), Mississippi State (1992-94), the University of Alabama (1983-84) and Troy (1982-83).

My dealings with Hall were rather limited. He did make some news on Big East media day in 2008 when he confirmed that he was the lone Big East coach not to pick UConn to win the 2008-09 Big East title.

Hall graciously answered questions about his decision both at media day in New York when he said “No disrespect to Geno whatsoever. I think Louisville, just looking at the (Big East) run last year, they were coming off of 26 wins with four starters back. I think with Angel McCoughtry and Maya Moore, you are weighing it, honestly, I kind of wish I could split it half and half.”

In the two seasons he was at Cincinnati, I found him to be an likeable guy to deal with who exuded that Southern gentleman charm and I was very saddened to hear about his passing.