A true legend at Morehead State, in the Ohio Valley Conference and in the community, Dr. Rex Chaney passed away at night on March 30, 2024.
Chaney is still the only member of the Morehead State Athletic Hall of Fame to be inducted while still a member of the coaching staff, earning that honor in 2000. He was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2015.
Details on services will be made available when finalized.
Chaney was involved with multiple sports at Morehead State since first coming to the school in 1953 as a student. Included in his mentorships were seven seasons as the school's head baseball coach, four years as an assistant men's basketball coach under Bob Laughlin and an incredible 38-year career as the men's golf coach, where he was OVC Coach of the Year four times. He retired from coaching at the conclusion of the 2013-14 year.
Chaney was named the conference's top golf coach after the Eagles captured league championships in 1977, 1981, 1993 and 1999. He has also directed MSU to six other top-three league-tournament finishes.
Chaney coached 20 All-OVC selections, six All-OVC Tournament honorees, six conference-tournament runners-up, three league-tournament medalists and two OVC Players of the Year. The group includes his son Lee (finished his MSU golf career in 2009) and current Professional Golf Association Tour member Josh Teater.
He led the Baseball Eagles to a 111-56 record from 1961-67. The OVC's 1963 Baseball Coach of the Year, Chaney guided MSU to at least a share of the league's East Division crown in 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964.
Chaney earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Morehead State, in addition to a doctorate from Indiana University. He joined MSU's Health, Physical Education and Recreation faculty in 1961.
Chaney was a valuable member of the Morehead community and a man of faith. He could be seen most weeks with a special group of friends at Reno's Restaurant, and he was known for making his famous bourbon ball candy.
Chaney, originally from Perry County, Ky., was married to the former Sarah Kidwell of Bardstown, Ky.