The likeness of one of Hamline University’s greatest coaches, Joe Hutton, Sr., will be a permanent fixture in the athletic arena that bears his name, Hutton Arena.

Recently, as Hamline celebrated its basketball greats and Hamline's three national championship basketball teams, President Linda Hanson and Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Tony Grundhauser welcomed Hutton family members for the unveiling of the bust of legendary basketball coach, Joe Hutton, Sr.

The bust, although commissioned by Hamline, was created at the suggestion of Gordon Walker, class of '51, to match the bust of his father, Lloyd Walker, in Hamline's Walker Fieldhouse and to honor the father of his dear friend, Joe Hutton, Jr., who also graduated from Hamline in 1951.

In his 35 years as the head men's basketball coach at Hamline, Joe Hutton, Sr. posted an overall record of 591-207. His teams won 19 conference titles, all three of Hamline's national championships, and were three time runners-up. The university celebrates this Hamline legend with a bronze bust, made in his likeness, which will be a permanent fixture in the athletic arena that bears his name - Hutton Arena.

To capture Hutton's countenance, local artist Jane Frees-Kluth worked from digital images from Hamline's archives. Surrounding herself with these images, Freees-Kluth created a work of art that captures the strength, fortitude, and quiet commanding nature of this longtime Hamline basketball coach and local hero.

More on the artist
Jane Frees-Kluth, a Minneapolis resident and 1991 Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduate has been creating sculptures around the Twin Cities for 20 years. She has taught many sculpture workshops and lecture series, has had a number of prominent commissions, and has created more than a dozen portraits of people which reside in public and private collections.