Allen was an elite talent at the high school and collegiate levels. He led Head Coach Bob Laughlin’s Breckinridge Training School squad to the state championship in 1946, earning Mr. Basketball honors in the process. Prior to his Eagle basketball career, Allen signed a professional baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers and briefly played minor league baseball.
“Sonny was a God-gifted athlete,” said Men’s Golf Coach Rex Chaney, who has been associated with MSU since the late 1950s. “I don’t know of any other people who came through Morehead with that much ability as a player.”
Allen was a four-year starter for the MSU basketball team from 1946-50 and earned All-American honors his senior season. He ranks fourth all-time in scoring at MSU with 1,923 points and averaged 20.8 points per game during his career. Allen is also the only Eagle men’s basketball player to earn all-conference honors all four seasons.
He signed a professional basketball contract with the Indianapolis Olympians in 1950, but opted to serve in the United State Air Force instead. He spent 3 1/2 years as a member of the Air Force basketball team and averaged 27.2 points per game.
Allen returned to MSU and took over the baseball program in 1954. In his 14-year coaching career, he compiled a 226-137 record and earned Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1957, 1969 and 1973. He led the Eagles to three league championships in 1956, 1969 and 1973.
“Sonny was a great at motivating young people,” said Chaney. “His greatest key was the rapport he established with his players. Allen was an outstanding basketball, baseball and golf coach."
During his Eagle coaching tenure, Allen served as the director of athletics at Breckinridge from 1953-63 and led the 1963 boys basketball squad to the state tournament. He was also assistant athletic director at MSU from 1976-84.
Allen’s daughter, Patty, remembers her father’s ability to lead the student-athletes he coached.
“His leadership ability always amazed me,” she recalls. “No matter what he was asked to do, he would always give it 110%. He was a wonderful mentor to all he came in contact with and always led by example.”
Chaney agrees that one of Allen’s best talents was mentoring young people.
“I believe athletes who were here during Sonny’s time all remember him as easy going, but demanding in terms of becoming better,” he said. “Everybody liked Sonny and he had a gift for that. He had a knack for influencing young kids as a coach and was a great ambassador for Eagle athletics.”
MSU’s baseball field was dedicated in honor of Allen. He is a member of seven Hall of Fames, including the Kentucky Hall of Fame (KHSAA), Kentucky Lions Club Basketball Hall of Fame, 16th Region Hall of Fame, Sweet 16 Hall of Fame, Morehead State University Athletic Hall of Fame, Morehead State University Alumni Hall of Fame and Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame.
Despite his numerous accolades, wins on the court and in the field, Allen impacted the lives of the student-athletes, his fellow coaches and administrators, his family and most of all the Eagle community.
