Ohio Valley Conference

The Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award is given annually to an Ohio Valley Conference male or female student-athlete of junior or senior standing who best exemplifies the characteristics of the late Morehead State student-athlete, coach and administrator Steve Hamilton.

Hamilton competed on OVC Championship teams in each baseball, basketball and track while at Morehead State. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1958 and a master's degree also from Morehead Sate in 1963. He went on to have an 11-year major-league pitching career and coached in the minor leagues before returning to MSU in 1976 to become head baseball coach. He held that position for 13 years and compiled a 305-275 record while leading the Eagles to five divisional championships and two OVC titles. He was named Morehead State's Director of Athletics in July 1988 and served in that position 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 is the only individual to play in the NCAA Basketball Championship, a Major League Baseball World Series (New York Yankees) and a National Basketball Association Championship Series (Minnesota Lakers).

Criteria include significant athletics performance along with good sportsmanship and citizenship. The award is voted on by the Conference's athletics directors and sports information directors.
 

All-Time Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award Winners

1998-99 -- Julie Virta (basketball), Austin Peay
1999-00 -- Michael Turner (basketball), Murray State
2000-01 -- Kelly Pendleton (basketball), UT Martin
2001-02 -- Grant Swallows (football), Tennessee Tech
2002-03 -- Brooke Armistead (basketball), Austin Peay
2003-04 -- Kandi Brown (basketball), Morehead State
2004-05 -- Cassandra Peek (basketball), Austin Peay
2005-06 -- Zac Schlader (basketball), Austin Peay
2006-07 -- Adonia Bivins (soccer), Austin Peay
2007-08 -- Beth Boden (softball), Tennessee Tech
2008-09 -- Carrie Burggraf (track and field), Austin Peay
2009-10 -- Carrie Burggraf (track and field), Austin Peay
2010-11 -- Abby O'Connor (volleyball), Eastern Kentucky
2011-12 -- Jon Clinard (baseball), Austin Peay
2012-13 -- Sean Bailey (tennis), Austin Peay
2013-14 -- J.J. Mann (basketball), Belmont
2014-15 -- Alison Alcott (soccer), Belmont
2015-16 -- Dalton Screws (football), Jacksonville State
2016-17 -- Jessica Twaddle (softball), Murray State
2017-18 -- Sally McCabe (basketball), Belmont
2018-19 -- Josh Pearson (football), Jacksonville State
2019-20 -- not awarded
2020-21 -- Jamaal Thompson (football/men's basketball), Tennessee Tech
2021-22 -- Grace Powderly (tennis), Southeast Missouri
2022-23 -- Seth Carlisle (football), Tennessee Tech
2023-24 -- MacKenzie Neal (golf), Morehead State
2024-25 -- Meredith Nye (soccer), Tennessee Tech