Chuck McGill, West Virginia’s four-time Sportswriter of the Year, has been named Marshall’s Assistant AD for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications, Marshall Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick announced Friday.
In addition to regular contribution to HerdZone.com while working alongside Marshall’s Sports Information office, McGill will serve as editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated (THI), the department’s new official monthly publication. This publication will provide new and improved content, transitioning from the department’s weekly Herd Insider. THI’s content will give an exclusive look behind the scenes of Thundering Herd Athletics and will be distributed to qualified members of the Big Green Scholarship Foundation, based on giving level. The publication will have an official magazine format and will be produced and distributed in conjunction with IMG College, Marshall University Athletics’ official media rights holder.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have a journalist with Chuck’s ability and integrity join our team and share our story about Thundering Herd Athletics,” said Hamrick. “He has been recognized as West Virginia’s top sportswriter, among many talented ones, on four separate occasions. To have him carry the torch lit by Jack Bogaczyk’s Word on the Herd is tremendous. We have done a great job sharing the unique stories about our student athletes with our donors and fans. Chuck is the right person to drive our message and brand.”
McGill, 35, is a Charleston native who has worked in the newspaper industry for 15 years. In 2009, he was hired by the Charleston Daily Mail as the beat writer for Marshall Athletics, and in 2012 was promoted to sports editor and columnist. Last August, when the Daily Mail merged with the Charleston Gazette to form the Gazette-Mail, McGill was hired as the sports editor, overseeing an 11-person staff. Before returning to West Virginia, he worked as a sportswriter at the award-winning Northern Virginia Daily in Strasburg, Virginia. After six months, he was elevated to sports editor there.
“This is an irresistible opportunity for me and my family,” McGill said. “The Marshall family and the spirit of the community are so unique. The relationships I developed covering Thundering Herd athletics have turned out to be lasting friendships, and we can’t wait to immerse ourselves in a town and school with a rich history and an exciting future.”
The National Sports Media Association has named McGill the state’s Sportswriter of the Year four times: 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He has been a finalist six consecutive times for the award.
“Chuck is a great addition to our external team,” Aaron Goebbel, Marshall’s Associate AD for External Affairs, said. “In the landscape of college athletics, it is important to put our best foot forward. Our aim is to appropriately display our brand to fans, the general public and anyone eager to learn about Marshall Athletics.”
McGill has also been honored by the Virginia Press Association and West Virginia Press Association. During his time at Charleston Newspapers, McGill won three WVPA first-place awards for Best Feature Writing, while also being recognized in categories such as Best Sports News Writing, Best Sports Columnist, Best Sports Pages and Best Sports Special Section. In 2014, the Tennis Industry Association gave its inaugural Tennis Media Award to McGill for the top tennis story in the United States.
McGill has voted on the Heisman Trophy and in the Associated Press polls for football and men’s basketball. He had a research role and appeared in theESPN 30 for 30 series “Rand University,” based on former DuPont High School, Marshall University and National Football League star Randy Moss.
“IMG College is a great partner,” said Hamrick. “With its expertise in publications, coupled with our ability to give an inside look at our program, we will deliver a new age publication that our Marshall family will thoroughly enjoy.”
Chuck and his wife, Lauren, have been married for nearly eight years. They have a 4-year-old son named Gunnar.
In addition to regular contribution to HerdZone.com while working alongside Marshall’s Sports Information office, McGill will serve as editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated (THI), the department’s new official monthly publication. This publication will provide new and improved content, transitioning from the department’s weekly Herd Insider. THI’s content will give an exclusive look behind the scenes of Thundering Herd Athletics and will be distributed to qualified members of the Big Green Scholarship Foundation, based on giving level. The publication will have an official magazine format and will be produced and distributed in conjunction with IMG College, Marshall University Athletics’ official media rights holder.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have a journalist with Chuck’s ability and integrity join our team and share our story about Thundering Herd Athletics,” said Hamrick. “He has been recognized as West Virginia’s top sportswriter, among many talented ones, on four separate occasions. To have him carry the torch lit by Jack Bogaczyk’s Word on the Herd is tremendous. We have done a great job sharing the unique stories about our student athletes with our donors and fans. Chuck is the right person to drive our message and brand.”
McGill, 35, is a Charleston native who has worked in the newspaper industry for 15 years. In 2009, he was hired by the Charleston Daily Mail as the beat writer for Marshall Athletics, and in 2012 was promoted to sports editor and columnist. Last August, when the Daily Mail merged with the Charleston Gazette to form the Gazette-Mail, McGill was hired as the sports editor, overseeing an 11-person staff. Before returning to West Virginia, he worked as a sportswriter at the award-winning Northern Virginia Daily in Strasburg, Virginia. After six months, he was elevated to sports editor there.
“This is an irresistible opportunity for me and my family,” McGill said. “The Marshall family and the spirit of the community are so unique. The relationships I developed covering Thundering Herd athletics have turned out to be lasting friendships, and we can’t wait to immerse ourselves in a town and school with a rich history and an exciting future.”
The National Sports Media Association has named McGill the state’s Sportswriter of the Year four times: 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He has been a finalist six consecutive times for the award.
“Chuck is a great addition to our external team,” Aaron Goebbel, Marshall’s Associate AD for External Affairs, said. “In the landscape of college athletics, it is important to put our best foot forward. Our aim is to appropriately display our brand to fans, the general public and anyone eager to learn about Marshall Athletics.”
McGill has also been honored by the Virginia Press Association and West Virginia Press Association. During his time at Charleston Newspapers, McGill won three WVPA first-place awards for Best Feature Writing, while also being recognized in categories such as Best Sports News Writing, Best Sports Columnist, Best Sports Pages and Best Sports Special Section. In 2014, the Tennis Industry Association gave its inaugural Tennis Media Award to McGill for the top tennis story in the United States.
McGill has voted on the Heisman Trophy and in the Associated Press polls for football and men’s basketball. He had a research role and appeared in theESPN 30 for 30 series “Rand University,” based on former DuPont High School, Marshall University and National Football League star Randy Moss.
“IMG College is a great partner,” said Hamrick. “With its expertise in publications, coupled with our ability to give an inside look at our program, we will deliver a new age publication that our Marshall family will thoroughly enjoy.”
Chuck and his wife, Lauren, have been married for nearly eight years. They have a 4-year-old son named Gunnar.
