Eastern Kentucky student-athletes have lost one of their greatest advocates.

 

Ira D. Combs, a longtime educator, coach, athletic director and sports commentator has died. He was 62

 

Legendary Eastern Kentucky sports figure dies

Beloved sports personality Ira Combs passed away Thursday. Sources tell LEX 18 that Combs suffered a heart attack while covering the Kentucky Wildcats at the Yum Center.

 

Combs ran the sports website Combs Brothers On Ky Sports and was well known throughout the state. Combs was from Hazard and had coached baseball at Cumberland baseball.

Sports Journalist, Enthusiast Ira Combs Dies - LEX18.com | Continuous News and StormTracker Weather

I hate to hear that. Ira was always a great guy and his love of the sports and kids he covered was always obvious.

 

Was he at Rupp on Wednesday? I thought I saw him but now I can't remember for sure. Hate that I didn't get a chance to speak to him one last time.

I hate to hear about this sad news. I have known Ira and his brother Harold for long time. He was a tireless worker for the promotion of high school basketball, especially in the mountains. He will definitely be missed in the sports community.

What if any kin was he to Oscar?

RIP Mr. Ira Combs. Huge contributions to prep sports in the state of Kentucky and at UK.

What if any kin was he to Oscar?

Brother I believe

Pretty sad stuff. He was picking up his media credential at the Yum Center when it happened.

What if any kin was he to Oscar?

 

Brother.

I am not around a radio is Oscar on the air with Matt tonight I'm not around a radio.

Heard this on the radio today. Hate this for his family.

Is it me or is it poetic that a guy who loved the Cats and Kentucky sports so much gets to go out at a UK game though? It's kind of storybook in a way considering we are all going to go at some point. Probably no place he'd have rather been.

 

I hope this doesn't come off as insensitive because it is in no way at all meant as that.

Is it me or is it poetic that a guy who loved the Cats and Kentucky sports so much gets to go out at a UK game though? It's kind of storybook in a way considering we are all going to go at some point. Probably no place he'd have rather been.

 

I hope this doesn't come off as insensitive because it is in no way at all meant as that.

 

I'd feel better about leaving that comment to his brother, but knowing Ira what little bit I do, I feel like he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

I hate to hear that. Ira was always a great guy and his love of the sports and kids he covered was always obvious.

 

Was he at Rupp on Wednesday? I thought I saw him but now I can't remember for sure. Hate that I didn't get a chance to speak to him one last time.

 

Can anybody confirm/deny one way or another on this? It's kind of bothering me. I'm almost certain I saw him.

Can anybody confirm/deny one way or another on this? It's kind of bothering me. I'm almost certain I saw him.

 

I'd say there is a great chance he was there. He was Tweeting all day yesterday