A native of Corbin, Ky., Bird was an integral part of both of EKU’s national championship teams in 1979 and 1982. His collegiate career culminated in 1982, when he was named a Kodak All-American, as well as the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year.

High School: Bird got a taste for winning early on in his athletic career, leading Corbin High School to a state championship in 1976 and a state runner-up finish the following year. He earned consensus all-state honors as a senior at Corbin, which has since retired his jersey number 24.

Athletics run in Bird’s bloodlines, as his father, Jerry, starred for the Kentucky Wildcats and led UK basketball to a 25-0 record in 1954.

2007 Former Eastern Kentucky All-American Steve Bird returns to his alma mater for a second season as the wide receivers coach. Bird brings a wealth of Division I-A experience to the Colonel coaching staff and returns to Eastern after spending the previous four years at West Virginia where he coached the Mountaineer receivers and served as the passing game coordinator.