The Ohio Valley Conference Male Athlete of the Year Award is given to the OVC male student-athlete who is deemed the top player in the League each year. The award is voted on by the Conference's athletics directors and sports information directors.
All-Time OVC Male Athlete of the Year Award Winners
1976-77 -- Tony Staynings (track), Western Kentucky University
1977-78 -- Ray Flynn (track), East Tennessee State University; Rodney Moore (track), Tennessee Technological University
1978-79 -- James Tillman (basketball), Eastern Kentucky University
1979-80 -- Gary Hooker (basketball), Murray State University
1980-81 -- Greg Artis (track), Middle Tennessee State University
1981-82 -- George Floyd (football), Eastern Kentucky University
1982-83 -- Steve Bird (football), Eastern Kentucky University
1983-84 -- Joe Jakubick (basketball), University of Akron
1984-85 -- Chris Sullivan (football), Eastern Kentucky University
1985-86 -- Don Griffin (football), Middle Tennessee State University
1986-87 -- Fred Harvey (football), Eastern Kentucky University
1987-88 -- Jeff Martin (basketball), Murray State University
1988-89 -- Jeff Martin (basketball), Murray State University
1989-90 -- Jayhawk Owens (baseball), Middle Tennessee State University
1990-91 -- Ronald "Popeye" Jones (basketball), Murray State University
1991-92 -- Ronald "Popeye" Jones (basketball), Murray State University
1992-93 -- Markus Thomas (football), Eastern Kentucky University
1993-94 -- Carlos Rogers (basketball), Tennessee State University
1994-95 -- Marcus Brown (basketball), Murray State University
1995-96 -- Bubba Wells (basketball), Austin Peay State University
1996-97 -- Bubba Wells (basketball), Austin Peay State University
1997-98 -- De'Teri Mayes (basketball), Murray State University
1998-99 -- William "Bud" Eley (basketball), Southeast Missouri State University
1999-00 -- Jeremy Johnson (baseball), Southeast Missouri State University
2000-01 -- Trenton Hassell (basketball), Austin Peay State University
2001-02 -- Henry Domercant (basketball), Eastern Illinois University
2002-03 -- Kyle O'Brien (cross country/track and field), Eastern Illinois University
2003-04 -- Efrem Hill (football), Samford University
2004-05 -- Charles Anthony (football), Tennessee State University
2005-06 -- J. Robert Merritt (basketball), Samford University
2006-07 -- Jacob Korir (cross country/track and field), Eastern Kentucky
2007-08 -- Lester Hudson (basketball), University of Tennessee at Martin
2008-09 -- Lester Hudson (basketball), University of Tennessee at Martin
2009-10 -- Jim Klocke (baseball), Southeast Missouri State University
2010-11 -- Kenneth Faried (basketball), Morehead State University
2011-12 -- Isaiah Canaan (basketball), Murray State University
2012-13 -- Erik Lora (football), Eastern Illinois University
2013-14 -- Jimmy Garoppolo (football), Eastern Illinois University
2014-15 -- Cameron Payne (basketball), Murray State University
2015-16 -- Eli Jenkins (football), Jacksonville State University
2016-17 -- Eli Jenkins (football), Jacksonville State University; Evan Bradds (basketball), Belmont University
2017-18 -- Jonathan Stark (basketball), Murray State University
2018-19 -- Ja Morant (basketball), Murray State University
2019-20 -- not awarded
2020-21 -- Terry Taylor (basketball), Austin Peay State University
2021-22 -- Dustin Hatfield (cross country/track & field), Eastern Illinois University
2022-23 -- Geno Hess (football), Southeast Missouri State University
2023-24 -- Riley Minix (basketball), Morehead State University
2024-25 -- Ray'Sean Taylor (basketball), SIUE