Wayne Martin, a name synonymous with Kentucky sports, higher education and local television, passed away Saturday morning at the age of 79.
He was just weeks away from turning 80. A native of Winchester, Martin built a career that stretched across three different worlds, college basketball, civic leadership and broadcast management, and left a mark on all of them.
Martin earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Morehead State University, graduating with honors in 1968. He returned to his alma mater a decade later, taking over as head coach of the Eagles basketball program from 1978 to 1987.
Under his leadership, the team reached the NCAA tournament twice and Martin was named Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 1982.
He also mentored three future NBA draft picks during his tenure, including Bob McCann, who later joined him in the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame. Martin was inducted into that hall of fame himself in 1995. Earlier in his coaching career, he led programs at Pikeville College and Pikeville High School, and worked as an assistant coach at Oral Roberts University.
From the Sidelines to the Newsroom
In 1987, Martin shifted careers entirely, moving into broadcast management at WYMT-TV in Hazard. He later transferred to WKYT-TV in Lexington, eventually becoming president and general manager, a position he held for close to two decades.
His rise continued within Gray Media, where he served as regional vice president and oversaw stations across Kentucky and Tennessee before retiring in 2012.
Colleagues at WKYT remembered him as more than a boss. Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey said Martin gave him his start at the station nearly thirty years ago and remained a mentor long after retiring. Anchor Amber Philpott said Martin believed in her and pushed her to do her best work, calling him family.
A Legacy Beyond the Court and the Newsroom
Martin’s influence reached far past sports and television. He chaired both the Kentucky and Greater Lexington Chambers of Commerce, led the United Way’s annual campaign, and served as chairman of the Governor’s Scholars Foundation. He also sat on the boards of Central Bancshares, Central Baptist Hospital and the American Heart Association, among other organizations.
His connection to Morehead State never faded. He served multiple terms on the university’s Board of Regents, including a stretch as vice chair during the COVID-19 pandemic, and received the school’s Founders Award for University Service in 2025.
In April 2026, the university broke ground on Martin Hall, a residence hall named in his honor, alongside a scholarship endowment that has already raised more than $100,000.
Former University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari recalled organizing charity telethons with Martin that raised millions of dollars, and said the two became close friends through the work.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, September 4, at First Christian Church in Winchester, with a funeral service to follow at 1 p.m. Martin is survived by his wife, Kathy Goins Martin, and sons Matthew and Michael. His son Chris preceded him in death.
