44 Jeff Ginnan

Jeff Ginnan was born August 31, 1966, and grew up in the southeastern Kentucky mountain town of Beattyville. At Lee County High School, Ginnan excelled as a 6-foot-8 forward, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game during his senior year while leading the Bobcats to an outstanding 28-5 record. Seeking to fulfill his childhood dream of playing for the Kentucky Wildcats, Ginnan first spent the first part of his career playing at Transylvania University in Lexington before transferring to UK.

As a fifth-year senior in the 1988–89 season, Ginnan joined the Wildcats as a walk-on after earning a spot through campuswide tryouts. Head coach Eddie Sutton, navigating a severely depleted roster, added Ginnan to provide a physical presence in practice and off the bench as someone who could “bang a little” in the paint. Despite suffering a fractured left tibia mid-season, Ginnan’s relentless dedication was rewarded when Sutton placed him on full scholarship for the second semester, and he was later honored with the Committee of 101 Appreciation Award at the team’s postseason banquet.

Ginnan’s ultimate dream was realized on March 1, 1989, when he made his first and only career start on Senior Night against Ole Miss. He played the opening five minutes of the game, matched up against the Rebels’ All-SEC star Gerald Glass. The emotional evening ended in legendary fashion when teammate Richie Farmer hit “The Clay County Special”—a high-arching 21-footer at the buzzer—to secure a thrilling 70-69 victory, which Farmer proudly dedicated to Ginnan and fellow senior Mike Scott. Ginnan concluded his Kentucky career having appeared in three games with one start, playing eight minutes, grabbing one rebound, and scoring his lone collegiate point from the free-throw line against California in the Great Alaska Shootout.

Following his graduation from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Business Administration in the spring of 1989, Ginnan forged a highly successful career in the financial services industry. He went on to achieve significant professional success, eventually serving as the Executive Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Central Investment Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Ginnan also remained dedicated to local youth sports, sharing his leadership as a baseball coach and notably serving as the head coach for the Eastern Little League All-Stars during their historic run to the Great Lakes Regional tournament in 2017.