Paul McBrayer

Paul McBrayer (1909-1999)

Teams coached: Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Eastern Kentucky record: 214-142 (.601)
Overall record: 214-142 (.601)

Career Accomplishments:

• NCAA National Championships:  0
• NCAA Tournament Appearances:  2  (1953, 1959)
• NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  0
• NIT Championships:  0
• NIT Appearances:  0
• Ohio Valley Regular Season Champion:  3  (1953, 1959, 1961)
• Ohio Valley Tournament Champion:  2  (1950, 1955)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1946-1962	Eastern Kentucky
1934-1943	Kentucky (asst)

Paul McBrayer Facts

• Paul S. McBrayer
• Born October 12, 1909
• Died January 1, 1999
• Hometown: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
• Alma Mater: University of Kentucky (BA, 1930)
• Played basketball for head coach John Mauer and the Kentucky Wildcats from 1927-30
• Joined the staff of Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp at UK in 1934, coaching with the Wildcats for 9 seasons
  • Was part of five SEC title teams and the Wildcats’ 1942 NCAA Final Four appearance
  • Left Kentucky in 1943 to serve in the US Army during World War II
• After the war in 1946, McBrayer was hired as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky
  • After a couple seasons in the KIAC, the program became part of the University Division (now D-I) Ohio Valley Conference
  • Compiled an overall record of 214-142 across 15+ seasons at the helm, finishing above .500 eleven times
  • Led the Colonels to OVC titles in 1953, 1959 and 1961 and OVC Tournament crowns in 1950 and 1955
  • Went to the NCAA Tournament in 1953 and 1959, the first two appearances for the EKU program
• In 1988, the basketball facility inside Alumni Coliseum was renamed Paul S. McBrayer Area in his honor
  • McBrayer is a member of the Kentucky Athletic HOF, Eastern Kentucky Athletic HOF and OVC HOF
• Passed away at age 89 in January 1999 after a battle with pancreatic cancer; survived by his wife, Katie

Paul McBrayer Coaching Tree

• Jim Baechtold (Eastern Kentucky)
• Guy Strong (Oklahoma State, Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky Wesleyan)