Wayne Martin Obituary, MOREHEAD, Ky. — Wayne Martin, a prominent Kentucky sports figure, longtime broadcaster, civic leader, and legendary Morehead State University basketball coach, died Saturday morning, August 29, 2026. He was 79, just weeks before his 80th birthday.
Martin, a Winchester native, spent decades making an impact across Kentucky through athletics, higher education, broadcasting, and community service. Morehead State Athletics joined the university community in honoring his life and legacy, remembering him as a mentor, leader, and proud Eagle who helped shape the university’s basketball program.
Martin graduated with honors from Morehead State University in 1968 and earned a master’s degree from the institution in 1972, later obtaining a Rank I Administrative Certification. His connection to the university would continue throughout his life, eventually including multiple terms on the Morehead State Board of Regents.
As head coach of the Morehead State Eagles from 1978 to 1987, Martin guided the program to two NCAA Tournament appearances and was named Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 1982. He coached three players who were selected in the NBA Draft, including Morehead State Athletic Hall of Fame member Bob McCann. Martin himself was inducted into the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
His coaching career also included time as head coach and athletic director at Pikeville College, where his teams made three national tournament appearances. Earlier in his career, he served as an assistant coach at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and began coaching and teaching business at Pikeville High School.
Martin later built an extensive career in broadcasting. In 1987, he joined WYMT-TV in Hazard, eventually becoming general manager. In 1993, he moved to WKYT-TV in Lexington, where he became president and general manager. He later served in leadership roles with Gray Media, including regional vice president and president of Gray Kentucky Television Inc., before retiring in 2012.
Beyond sports and broadcasting, Martin was deeply involved in civic and community leadership. He chaired the Kentucky and Greater Lexington Chambers of Commerce, the Lexington Area Sports Authority, and the Lexington Center Corporation, while also serving as president of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association. His community service included leadership roles with the United Way and Children’s Advocacy Center, as well as service on several boards.
Martin’s legacy at Morehead State was recognized in numerous ways. In 2025, he received the university’s Founders Award for University Service. In April 2026, the university broke ground on Martin Hall, a residence hall named in his honor that is expected to open in spring 2027. A scholarship endowment bearing his name had also raised more than $100,000 in support of students.
Martin served three separate terms on the Morehead State Board of Regents before being reappointed in 2021, with his service including a term as vice chair from 2016 to 2020. He is survived by his wife, the former Kathy Goins of Frankfort, and his sons, Matthew and Michael. He was preceded in death by his son, Chris. Funeral arrangements are pending. Morehead State University and the broader Kentucky community now mourn a respected coach, leader, mentor, and devoted Eagle whose influence will continue through the people and institutions he served.
