Campbellsville High School is pleased to announce that Michael “Spanky” Despain has been selected as the school’s 2026 inductee into the 5th Region Athletic Director’s Hall of Fame.
Despain is a 1988 graduate of LaRue County High School and a 1992 graduate of Campbellsville University. While at Campbellsville University, he served as a student assistant for the men’s basketball programs at both LaRue County High School and Campbellsville University.
Following graduation, Despain worked as an instructional assistant for Campbellsville Independent Schools for two years before joining Casey County Schools, where he served from 1994 to 1997. In the fall of 1997, he returned to Campbellsville Independent Schools and began working at the Newton Education Center.
During this time, “Spanky,” along with a group of friends, became regular attendees at Campbellsville High School basketball games, always sitting in the same spot in the gym. Known for their good-natured enthusiasm, they often “coached” the officials throughout games in a joking and fun manner, frequently apologizing before tip-off by telling the officials, “It’s nothing personal — just business.”
Despain also served as a chaperone for the boys’ basketball teams during their trips to the All-A State Tournament in the late 1990s and early 2000s. When the public address announcer position became available prior to the 2002-2003 season, Tim Davis asked Despain if he would be interested in the role. He accepted and went on to serve as CHS’s PA announcer for 13 seasons, concluding with the 2014-2015 basketball season. Despain continued attending games as his son, Jake — a 2016 CHS graduate — played basketball for the Eagles.
When Campbellsville High School partnered with local radio station WTCO 106.7 The Rock to broadcast football and basketball games, it was Despain’s wife, Jenny, who volunteered him to handle play-by-play duties for Lady Eagle and Eagle basketball games. He continues in that role today alongside his son, Jake. Despain also serves as the emcee for the Campbellsville High School Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony and provides all voice-over narration for each inductee’s presentation.
Outside of school athletics, Despain’s true passion is dirt track racing. He has worked as a race announcer for numerous tracks and series since the early 1990s and currently serves as the series announcer for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series. The regional Dirt Late Model racing series sanctions events across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia. With the start of the 2026 racing season in April, Despain will begin his 34th season announcing dirt track racing competition.
Despain is an honorary Kentucky Colonel and a member of the Brownstown Speedway Hall of Fame (2021) and the South Central Kentucky Dirt Racing Hall of Fame (2025). He was also inducted into the LaRue County Athletic Hall of Fame last weekend as a member of the 1986-87 LaRue County Hawks boys basketball team, which won the 5th Region Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals of the KHSAA Sweet 16.
Despain retired from Campbellsville Independent Schools on January 1, 2021. He has been married to his wife, Jenny, for 31 years. Jenny also retired from Campbellsville Independent Schools in 2024. They have one son, Jake, a 2020 graduate of Campbellsville University, who is 27 years old and employed by UPS Logistics in Elizabethtown.
Campbellsville High School will recognize Despain on Tuesday night, February 3, when CHS hosts Central Hardin in a girls-boys basketball doubleheader. He will be recognized following the girls’ game, with a reception after the boy’s game. All friends and family are invited to attend.
Despain will also be recognized prior to the girls’ regional championship game at Central Hardin High School on Saturday, March 7.
