MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State Deputy Director of Athletics Richard Fletcher has been named a recipient of the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Thurston Banks Award for Distinguished Academic Service.
The award, selected by the OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs), was established in 2013 to recognize individuals (e.g. academic advisor, professor, tutor, etc.), with at least five years of service at one or more OVC member institutions, for their outstanding contributions to OVC student-athletes' academic success, learning and development as well for his or her overall commitment to the institution's athletics program. The award is named after Dr. Thurston Banks, who served the Tennessee Tech Department of Athletics for 31 of his 34 years on the faculty and served as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) for 25 years before stepping down in 2006. He was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2007.
He joins Tennessee Tech's Dr. Samantha Bates as recipients for 2025 and is the third-ever Morehead State administrator to win this honor. Peggy Osborne, former Faculty Athletics Representative, won in 2015 and Jim Wells, former Compliance Director and softball coach, won in 2020.
Fletcher has worked at his alma mater, Morehead State, for 23 years. He has held multiple positions during his tenure, giving him direct contact with student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff, university administrators, parents, alumni, boosters and fans. His career has been focused on promoting student-athlete wellness and academic and social success.
He began his career as a graduate assistant athletic director and later served as Director of Sports Medicine, Director of Compliance and Senior Associate Director of Athletics before becoming Deputy Director of Athletics in 2017.
His oversight of the academic support unit as well as the compliance unit began by observing the model he inherited 20 years ago, which previously was run with a heavy emphasis on compliance. Fletcher advocated for more academic staffing and a facility that would serve the instructional support needs of MSU student athletes and with efforts from the faculty athletic representative of the time, they were able to successfully fund and open the EAGLE Academic Center, one of the finest academic support units in the OVC. The facility serves all Eagle student-athletes and is well staffed with academic support personnel to mentor and assist students.
Fletcher has served as part of numerous committees including the NCAA Rifle Committee, the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, the Technology Advisory Board, the Student Disciplinary Committee, Staff Congress and was an adjunct professor in Health, Physical Education & Recreation, Kinesiology and Sport and Science Programs from 2002-17.
Fletcher, who also holds a Master's degree from Morehead State, has plans retire in the summer of 2025
