From local news:

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/college/basket... /

Great man. Good coach. Fond memories of him from watching basketball camps with my older brothers and later attending myself and eventually interacting with him while he recruited me, as well as on the sidelines in Athens. I became an OU fan at the end of Danny Knee's era but it was the Hunter era that I grew up with and entrenched me as a lifelong fan.

Still have a VHS somewhere of highlights of the Trent-led 93-94 squad that Hunter coached in which my older brother appeared on the cover in the student section. I also vividly remember being at basketball camp in Athens in summer of 1995 when Coach Hunter had to step away for a press conference when Trent became a 1st Rd NBA draft pick.

He's had a long and heckuva coaching career. I hope he finally gets some time to relax, enjoy his family and have a long and happy retirement. He's earned it.

If Coach Hunter is truly retiring, the most important thing for Coach Hunter to do is to enjoy himself. I imagine that involves being around family and friends. I hope he gets to do the other things (like travelling) that most people put off until it is too late.

I remember seeing him in the late 80s when I was a varsity assistant high school basketball coach. He was always the gentleman and I remember commenting to the other coaches that the Division III guys always personally come to the high school games, which isn't always easy because you are preparing for your own games. I remember when he was hired at our beloved Alma mater thinking, I actually met the guy.

Finally, I remember when he turned down the Kansas State job wondering if he really wanted tackle the then Big 8, or if felt an inexorable pull to stay in his hometown. I know a lot of Athens County folks were furious when he was let go, feeling it was a stab in the back. All of that is water under the bridge, and I am sure I am not alone in wishing him the happiest retirement possible.

I can attest to this. He and a couple of his assistants at the time (Mike Elfers and Kevin Eckert) were all in the gym in-person to watch myself and the Hoyng brothers (J.T. and Seth) from Sparta Highland one cold weeknight. It was either a Tuesday or Friday night. Granted I don't know exactly what that years OU schedule was, but they certainly had practice if not a game or travel the very next day. Not only did they watch the game - they stayed and chatted briefly with the coaches and said a quick hello to us after the game as well. I remember thinking "holy crap - he's got a long nights drive back to Athens ahead of him".

Such is the life of a college recruiter.