The former standout Eagle athlete served MSU as baseball coach and director of athletics for more than 20 years. A standout athlete during his college days, he played on Ohio Valley Conference championship teams in baseball, basketball and track.
Hamilton is the only individual to play in the NCAA Basketball Championships (Morehead State), a Major League Baseball World Series (New York Yankees) and an National Basketball Association Championship Series (Minneapolis Lakers).
After an 11-year major-league pitching career, he coached in the minors before returning to MSU in 1976 to become baseball coach. He held that position for 13 years and accumulated a 305-275 record and led the Eagles to five divisional champions and two OVC crowns. In NCAA tournament competition, his 1983 squad was runner-up in the Midwest Regional.
He was named director of athletics in July 1988, a post he served until his death in 1997.
As the A.D., Hamilton led the program to success on the field, in facilities and in the classroom. During his tenure, a weight room was built, an academic counselor for athletes was added, graduation rates of student-athletes improved and the University won the OVC Academic Achievement Banner four times.
Hamilton earned a bachelor's degree from MSU in 1958 and a master's degree in 1963.
Among his honors include spots in the Morehead State University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1999, the OVC honored him with the establishment of the "Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award." It is given annually to an OVC male or female student-athlete of junior or senior standing who best exemplifies the characteristics of Hamilton. Criteria includes significant athletic performance along with good sportsmanship and citizenship.