MOREHEAD, Ky. — Preston Spradlin, who has spent the past five seasons on the men’s basketball staff at Kentucky, has been named an assistant coach at Morehead State. His time will be spent in a variety of areas, including recruiting, scouting, practice/game preparation and academics monitoring.
Spradlin spent two seasons (2009-11) as a graduate assistant with the Wildcats before three years as the assistant director of basketball operations (2011-14). His duties included film breakdown, creating and maintaining playbooks, assisting with opponent scouting and day-to-day operations.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity at Morehead State,” Spradlin said. “This was an easy and difficult decision at the same time. It was easy because I’m ready to be an assistant coach who can recruit and instruct on the floor, but difficult because we’ve had so much success at Kentucky.”
In his most-recent post, Spradlin was responsible for film exchange and created a variety of opponent and self-scouting edits for UK coaches and players. He also worked with personnel from the National Basketball Association, while assisting in other aspects of basketball operations.
“I want to welcome Preston and his family,” MSU Head Coach Sean Woods said. “We’re excited to have Preston because he’s a hard worker and great communicator. He has spent five years with a highly successful program and brings a championship mentality to what we’re doing.”
Spradlin, a native of Pikeville, Ky., served as director of the John Calipari Basketball Camps and Clinics from 2012-14. He was the primary contact for satellite tour stops across the state of Kentucky and coordinated the first-ever Basketball Fantasy Experience for UK’s head coach.
“I’ve been very fortunate to this point in my career,” Spradlin said. “I want to thank the administrators and coaches at Kentucky for giving me an opportunity to get started. I also want to thank the administrators and coaches at Morehead State for allowing me to take this next step.”
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.
“Preston is an up-and-comer with a bright basketball mind,” Woods said. “He was exposed to a little bit of everything at Kentucky. Preston has a great personality, plus he’s organized and thorough. He has done a lot of video work and scouting, which will help him as an assistant coach.”
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 letterwinner for the NAIA Eagles from 2005-09.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Preston or happier for his family,” Calipari said. “This is exactly what I hope our program is about: creating opportunities for young people. This is Preston’s first step in a long and successful coaching career. We wish him nothing but the best at Morehead State.”
Spradlin, a 2005 graduate of Betsy Layne High School (Ky.), is married to the former Misty Tackett. The couple has one son, Bentley, who was born on June 19, 2012.
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