Former MSU Basketball coach Wayne Martin to receive Founders Award
Upon the recommendation of President Jay Morgan, the Morehead State University Board of Regents is honored to announce Wayne Martin (Class of 1968, 1972) is the recipient of the 2025 Morehead State University Founders Award for University Service.
Established by the Board of Regents in 1978, the Founders Award recognizes individuals who have given superior service to MSU as employees or volunteers.
"The Founders Award for University Service represents the spirit of Morehead State and honors the legacy of those who commit their lives to bettering the campus community. Regent Martin's dedication and service has elevated our university, and we are honored to be able to recognize him." said Morehead State University President, Dr. Jay Morgan.
Wayne Martin was the head basketball coach at Morehead State University from 1978 to 1987, leading the Eagles to two NCAA tournaments. He was named OVC Coach of the Year in 1982 and inducted into the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. He also coached three NBA draft picks, including fellow Athletic Hall of Fame member Bob McCann.
Whether on the court or in his career that followed, Martin cultivated a deep connection and shared pride between students and alumni. He previously served as regional vice president for Gray Television Inc. and president of Gray Kentucky Television Inc. (now known as Gray Media), which operates WKYT-TV in Lexington, WYMT-TV in Hazard, and WBKO-TV in Bowling Green. He is the former president of WVLT-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was the recipient of the College of Business & Technology Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017.
Martin served on the MSU Board of Regents for three separate terms (1989–93, 2012–14, and 2015–21), offering steady leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic and helping the University stay focused on student and staff well-being. He was reappointed for a second term in 2021, extending his current term to 2027. Martin was vice chair of the Board of Regents from 2016 to 2020, providing leadership and continuity during key university initiatives.
“Coach Wayne Martin is the epitome of our popular saying, ‘Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle,’” said Dr. Sanford Holbrook (Class of 1997, 2024), chair of the Board of Regents.
“There are so many people throughout the state, nation, who respect and admire Regent Martin. From his time as a student to his time as a regent, he has been committed to Morehead State University. There was no question he was the right choice for the Founders Award for University Service.”
For more information on the Founders Award and to view past recipients, please visit alumni.moreheadstate.edu/foundersaward.
