Gary Michael, who will retire in June after 30 years of service as a member of James Madison's sports media relations office, was honored during JMU's final home men's basketball game. (Photo: Michael, L, with JMU AD Jeff Bourne; courtesy of JMU Athletics). Courtesy of James Madison University Athletics
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JMU Honors Long-time SID during final basketball game
HARRISONBURG, Va.- Gary Michael, who will retire in June after 30 years of service as a member of James Madison's sports media relations office, was honored by director of athletics Jeff Bourne during JMU's final home men's basketball game Saturday night at the Convocation Center.
Michael was hired on the sports information staff in 1980 as an assistant SID and was promoted to director in 1985, a role he has held for 25 years. As director, Michael handles all publicity efforts for JMU's football and men's basketball programs. He has also coordinated all communication efforts for an athletics program that grew from 24 to 28 sports and now stands at 18.
Through the completion of the 2009 football campaign, Michael worked 292 consecutive JMU football games, beginning with a 14-9 win at East Tennessee State on Sept. 7, 1985 and running through a 43-12 win over Towson on Nov. 21, 2009. Though the list was ended four years ago, the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) formerly tracked game streaks with Michael ranking in the top 10 among active Division I SIDs in consecutive football games worked.
In basketball, Michael has worked approximately 725 career games through Saturday's contest with Drexel. His run as director began with a 91-88 loss at VMI on Dec. 2, 1985. He has also been a key contributor to the operation of the Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball tournament in each of the league's 25 years of existence.
In addition to football and basketball, at some point in his tenure, Michael has worked directly with other men's sports at JMU, including baseball, cross country, track and field, wrestling, swimming and diving, tennis, and golf.
Michael has been present at many key events in JMU sports history, including the 2004 football national championship in Chattanooga and the 1983 baseball trip to Omaha for the College World Series. Other highlights include the 1994 trip to the basketball NCAA Tournament and nine years qualifying for the NCAA football playoffs. He has worked with many of JMU's memorable head coaches, such as baseball's Brad Babcock, basketball's Lefty Driesell, and football's Mickey Matthews.
Michael is a member of both CoSIDA and the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID). He coordinates VaSID's yearly balloting for the state Division I football awards. He also recently served on the committee for naming the CAA Silver Stars, the top 25 athletes in the league's 25 years in all sports.
Gary Michael is a 1977 graduate of JMU. He worked for two years as a sports writer at the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg before his hire in the sports information office at JMU. An avid runner, Michael has competed in numerous marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2004, 2006, and 2007