University of the Ozarks Athletics issued the following announcement on May 31.
David Hamilton credits his experiences on the basketball court and in the classroom for shaping his future as a husband, father and public servant. With a passion to serve, Hamilton was recently voted to the Fort Bend (Texas) Independent School District Board of Trustees. He also volunteers with a youth group at his church. He and his wife, Katie, are the parents of two children. He has most recently worked in commercial insurance.
How did you find Ozarks and what drew you to our university?
I graduated from Mulberry High School, and mainly chose Ozarks because I wanted to play college basketball. Coach Matt O'Connor did a great job recruiting me. I felt like I was part of the team.
What are some of your favorite Ozarks/Clarksville memories?
I have so many great memories from my four years at Ozarks. Many students who had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Stewart Dippel had the opportunity to share stories after he passed away recently, and that was a great trip down memory lane. Dr. Greta Marlow and Dr. Daniel Taddie deserve a lot of credit for the fact that I was not at Ozarks longer than four years. Dr. Marlow helped me navigate changing my major to Political Science and helping me graduate in four years. Dr. Taddie helped me work my way back from the verge of losing my Presidential Scholarship. Most of my favorite memories are from the guys I spent the most time with - my basketball teammates. I was especially close with Josh Joyner and Brad Johnson. I named my son Joshua Bradford after them. The three of us got a lot of playing time as freshmen and ended our careers with a 12-1 record at home our senior year.
How did your experience at Ozarks help to shape your future?
Ozarks was a very challenging and rewarding experience for me. Ozarks shaped my future by teaching me that if a kid from Mulberry, Arkansas, could thrive on the basketball court, in the classroom, and socially there; then I could thrive anywhere. There was a focus on helping students build critical-thinking skills, and those skills have been a significant part of my life ever since the fall of 2002.
What was your experience as a student-athlete like at U of O?
I had a great experience as a student-athlete. I flirted with playing both basketball and baseball, but gave up baseball after going through offseason workouts with both teams at the beginning of my freshman year. I played in one match for the golf team (set the school record for worst round ever, and may or may not have contributed to the golf team ending after that season), and ran cross country one year. Basketball was clearly my best sport, and one thing that has been surprising are the things I enjoyed the least have become the things I appreciate the most. The adversity that made me stronger and the preparation - practices, weights, scouting reports, walk through, and more - all geared towards getting ready to face and hopefully defeat a certain opponent.
Who was your favorite professor and why?
I had so many phenomenal professors at Ozarks, but there was only one Dippel. As his former students discussed our hopes for the attempt to replace him, the one thing that struck me most about our stories was that he genuinely cared about so many of us. I think we each selfishly thought we were his favorite student, and it was incredible for us to swap stories and see that he made so many of us feel that way. He had high standards for his students, and went above and beyond to help us reach and often exceed them.
What would you like to say to current U of O athletes if you could give them some advice?
I graduated 14 years ago, and I do not regret a single time that I ran the streets of Clarksville or the bleachers in Mabee Gymnasium, lifted weights on my own, worked on my shooting or dribbling in the gym by myself, or stopped by the coach's office to ask for advice. I do regret the times I chose not to, and the times I settled for only doing what our coaches required. As an individual athlete I wish I had done more and worked harder, and as a teammate I wish I had been a leader in getting others to join me. So to the current Ozarks' athletes, I say don't get a decade or two down the road and wish you had worked harder or been more of a leader. Go put in the work and be a leader now while you have the chance and it will pay off now for your individual progress, your team and throughout your life.
What are some hobbies and interests that you have?
I became a Christian after college, and my family is very involved at our church. I volunteer with the youth group, and really enjoy finding opportunities to talk with students about the religious questions I had in high school and college - but did not know how to ask them or who might have the answers.
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Original source can be found here.
Source: University of the Ozarks Athletics
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