[2] Hand grew to be six feet, four inches tall, and 215 pounds, and enrolled at Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, North Carolina.
[5] At the end of his junior year in 1963, he was unanimously selected as a first-team tackle on the All-Carolinas Conference football team.
As a rookie in 1965, Hand share responsibility at the right defensive end position with Sam Williams.
[14][15] Hand returned to his position as the Lions' right defensive end, starting all 14 games during the 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973 seasons.
[19] In April 1977, Hand tested the waters as a free agent and received an offer from the Houston Oilers.
[22] At the time of his retirement, Hand's 164 games with the Lions ranked fourth in franchise history behind Wayne Walker, Dick LeBeau, and Darris McCord.
[24][25] He worked for many years as a stock broker for E.F. Hutton and Co., Inc. and lived in the Winston-Salem area with his wife, Darlene.