Kingdom of the Sun founder passes

In the 1970's the Fairdale coaches met Ocola Vanguard coach Jim Haley while working at B/C All-Stars Basketball Camp in Milledgeville, Georgia. It was there that in 1980 Haley invited Fairdale to his prep tournament...and the rest his history.

In December of 1980 Coach Stan Hardin, Assistant Coach Lloyd Gardner and Athletic Director Butch Greschel headed south for an after Christmas basketball tournament in Ocala, Florida. In 1974 Coach Jim Haley, the head coach at Ocala Vanguard, was the brainchild of the first high school tournament in the United States with a national flavor… the Kingdom of the Sun. While enjoying the beautiful Florida sun between games, the basketball guru’s decided if this would work in Florida, in the middle of football country, it would certainly become contagious in a state where basketball is king, Kentucky. Even before the troops arrived home the tournament was named the “King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic”. Coach Gardner dreamed-up the logo which has been copyrighted. On December 19, 1981 the first ball was tossed up in the King of the Bluegrass. As history will show this 16 team / 26 game prep classic has been recognized as one of the nations finest.

In 1981 Tennessee High School from Bristol, Tennessee came to the King of the Bluegrass...went home and started the Arby's Classic.

In all, Fairdale attended the Classic six time.

Because of our great relationship with "The Chief", he would always call us for recommendations about Kentucky teams...and many of our schools have participated.

Jim and I talked almost every month about who we had in our tournaments and who would you recommend on a National level. Today we lost a great friend and basketball on a National scene has suffered the loss of one of the great innovators in our game...coach Haley.

Below is the story...copy and paste:

Longtime Vanguard coach Jim Haley dies at 74 - Sports - Ocala.com - Ocala, FL