Preston Spradlin Contract Extension

Editor: The following is part of a press release from msueagles.com.

(Morehead, KY) – Building a perpetually successful program the right way, as well as the partnerships and friendships he and his family have fostered in Morehead, have always been at the forefront of Morehead State head men’s basketball coach Preston Spradlin’s priority list.

After leading the program to its first Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in nearly 40 years and the third consecutive 20+ win campaign, Spradlin will have even more of an opportunity to make those priorities continue to be reality. Spradlin has earned a contract extension to lead the Eagles though the 2026-27 season.

“My family and I are tremendously grateful for the commitment our administration has made to this staff and the continued success of our program. Representing this University and living in the Morehead community over the past nine years has been an incredible blessing, and we look forward to growing our family and basketball program for years to come,” Spradlin said. “We are thankful for our fans and the meaningful relationships we have built throughout the community. Their loyal support has made it an easy decision for us to continue to serve and live out our purpose by leading this program.”

Spradlin completed his sixth season as full-time head coach in 2023-23 after spending the majority of the 2016-17 season as interim head coach. He has been at MSU for nine seasons overall (starting in 2014-15) and completed his 14th year working with a Division I program after serving five years on head coach John Calipari’s Kentucky staff. Among the 10 current league head coaches, Spradlin ranks first in total wins at his respective school, overall winning percentage, OVC wins and OVC winning percentage.

Spradlin, and his staff, leading the Eagles to three straight 20-win seasons is quite an accomplishment. It’s an occurrence that has only happened once before in program history. He guided the program to its first outright OVC regular-season title in 39 years in 2022-23. The Eagles also appeared in the NIT for the first time ever and won a first-round game at ACC power Clemson. Spradlin was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 18 Coach of the Year as well as the OVC Coach of the Year. Spradlin helped lead Mark Freeman to being crowned OVC Player of the Year and First-Team All-OVC as well as Alex Gross becoming just the third Eagle ever to win OVC Defensive Player of the Year.

“The culture, foundation and future of our program have never been stronger, and so much of that credit belongs to the players and staff,” he said. “Our success is dependent upon leadership, and our coaches are among some of the best in the country at evaluating, recruiting, developing and mentoring players that fit our program and represent our University at a high level.”

Spradlin officially took on the interim head coaching position on Dec. 15, 2016, nine games into the 2016-17 season after the Eagles opened with a 2-7 record. He then guided Morehead State to a 12-9 record the rest of the way and a 10-6 mark in OVC play.

Spradlin worked with the Dominican Republic National Team during the summers of 2011 and 2012.  The squad reached its highest finish and won the bronze medal in the Tournament of the America’s Olympic Qualifier in 2011 and came within one game of qualifying for the 2012 Olympics.

Spradlin earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Alice Lloyd (Ky.) in 2009 and master’s degree in kinesiology and health promotion, with a sports leadership emphasis, from Kentucky in 2011.  He was a four-year men’s basketball letter winner for the NAIA ALC Eagles from 2005-09.

Spradlin, a 2005 graduate of Betsy Layne High School (Ky.), is married to the former Misty Tackett. The couple has one son, Bentley, and one daughter, Aubrey.