Coach A.W. Hamilton Releases Motivational Children's Book
The Eastern Kentucky University coach wrote a new book to honor his late mother and teach students goal-setting skills.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Basketball
Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball head coach A.W. Hamilton has released a 28-page motivational book titled Dream Big with Coach A.W. Hamilton. He authored the work to process the grief of losing his mother, Deni Hamilton, while encouraging children to pursue their personal goals.
Why it matters
By sharing personal experiences and structured goal-setting tools, the author aims to foster ambition and perseverance in elementary-aged readers. The project serves as a tribute to his mother, who died in 2025.
The 28-page book features five distinct goal-setting tools for young readers. Coach Hamilton is working to donate copies to all 1,500 elementary schools across Kentucky.
The players
A.W. Hamilton
He is the head men's basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky University.
Deni Hamilton
She was the mother of A.W. Hamilton who lived in Georgetown.
Butler Books
This organization is the publisher of the motivational children's book.
Eastern Kentucky University
This Richmond-based institution employs A.W. Hamilton as its men's basketball head coach.
The details
Published by Butler Books, the work integrates lessons derived from Hamilton's own athletic career, including his time on the Scott County state title-winning team. Students in Madison, Clark, Perry, and Knox counties are among the first to receive copies of the book.
Timeline
1998: Hamilton played on Scott County's state title-winning team.
October 11, 2025: Deni Hamilton died at age 71.
October 15, 2026: The book launched on Hamilton's and his mother's birthday.
Season Trajectory
This initiative follows a pattern set by the NCAA's focus on student-athlete community engagement programs. By engaging with elementary schools across the state, the project extends the coach's public influence far beyond the basketball court.
Elementary schools in Madison, Clark, Perry, and Knox counties will soon have copies of the book available for students. The program is currently expanding with plans to reach schools in Scott County as well.
The takeaway
This project highlights how personal experiences and grief can be channeled into tangible educational resources for the public. Readers may consider using the author's five goal-setting tools to help children visualize and achieve their own personal milestones.
Further reading
For more stories on state sports figures and their off-court initiatives, visit the Kentucky Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lexington Herald Leader.
