Embry Named 2026 MAC Trailblazer of the Year
5/29/2026 2:00:00 PM | General, Athletics
CLEVELAND, Ohio --Â Miami's Wayne Embry has been named the recipient of the 2026 Trailblazer Award which was presented on Thursday night at the MAC Honors Dinner, as part of the Conference annual Spring Meetings. The Trailblazer Award is an annual award that honors a MAC individual in any position who has demonstrated support of equal opportunities and the student-athlete experience.
A 1958 graduate of Miami University, Embry scored 1,401 points during his collegiate basketball career, a total that still places him among the university's top 12 all-time scorers more than four decades later. His 1,117 rebounds remain the second-highest total in Miami history. Inducted into the Miami University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1970, Embry is also one of just six Miami men's basketball players to have his jersey retired.
Embry later dedicated 14 years of service to his alma mater on its Board of Trustees, including a term as board chair. Alongside his late wife, Theresa "Terri" Embry (Miami '60), he also supported the advisory board for the College of Education, Health and Society and contributed to the steering committees for Miami's Campaign for Love and Honor and Graduating Champions Campaign.
His contributions to the university were recognized with the Distinguished Achievement Medal in 2001 and the Intercollegiate Athletics Inclusive Excellence Award in 2019. In 2021, Miami University honored Embry and his late wife, Terri, with the Freedom Summer of '64 Award, recognizing their leadership and lasting contributions to civil rights and social justice.
Embry's NBA journey began in 1958 with the Cincinnati Royals, where he became the team's standout center before joining the Boston Celtics in 1966. He concluded his playing career in 1969 as the inaugural team captain of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Over the course of his playing career, Embry earned five NBA All-Star selections and won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 1968. Nicknamed "The Wall" for his 6-foot-8, 240-pound frame and exceptional screen-setting ability, he appeared in 831 regular-season games, averaging 12.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
After retiring as a player, Embry made history in 1972 when he became general manager of the Bucks, becoming the NBA's first African American general manager. During his eight-year tenure, the franchise reached the playoffs four times.
In 1985, Embry joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as vice president and general manager, helping build one of the league's most successful teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Cavaliers reached the postseason four times under his leadership. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1992 and became team president and chief operating officer in 1994, making him the first African American to hold those roles in NBA history.
Embry later joined the Toronto Raptors in 2004 as senior basketball advisor to the president. He served as interim general manager in 2006 and played an influential role in the franchise's 2019 NBA championship season.
A 1958 graduate of Miami University, Embry scored 1,401 points during his collegiate basketball career, a total that still places him among the university's top 12 all-time scorers more than four decades later. His 1,117 rebounds remain the second-highest total in Miami history. Inducted into the Miami University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1970, Embry is also one of just six Miami men's basketball players to have his jersey retired.
Embry later dedicated 14 years of service to his alma mater on its Board of Trustees, including a term as board chair. Alongside his late wife, Theresa "Terri" Embry (Miami '60), he also supported the advisory board for the College of Education, Health and Society and contributed to the steering committees for Miami's Campaign for Love and Honor and Graduating Champions Campaign.
His contributions to the university were recognized with the Distinguished Achievement Medal in 2001 and the Intercollegiate Athletics Inclusive Excellence Award in 2019. In 2021, Miami University honored Embry and his late wife, Terri, with the Freedom Summer of '64 Award, recognizing their leadership and lasting contributions to civil rights and social justice.
Embry's NBA journey began in 1958 with the Cincinnati Royals, where he became the team's standout center before joining the Boston Celtics in 1966. He concluded his playing career in 1969 as the inaugural team captain of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Over the course of his playing career, Embry earned five NBA All-Star selections and won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 1968. Nicknamed "The Wall" for his 6-foot-8, 240-pound frame and exceptional screen-setting ability, he appeared in 831 regular-season games, averaging 12.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
After retiring as a player, Embry made history in 1972 when he became general manager of the Bucks, becoming the NBA's first African American general manager. During his eight-year tenure, the franchise reached the playoffs four times.
In 1985, Embry joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as vice president and general manager, helping build one of the league's most successful teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Cavaliers reached the postseason four times under his leadership. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1992 and became team president and chief operating officer in 1994, making him the first African American to hold those roles in NBA history.
Embry later joined the Toronto Raptors in 2004 as senior basketball advisor to the president. He served as interim general manager in 2006 and played an influential role in the franchise's 2019 NBA championship season.
ÂCongratulations to 2026 MAC Trailblazer of the Year: Miami's Wayne Embry! @MiamiOH_BBall | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/8BXBFmRefx
— MACtion (@MACSports) May 29, 2026
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