Note: This is the 26th article in the CoSIDA Special Awards feature series which is highlighting all 2013 Special Award recipients. All recipients will be honored at the
CoSIDA Convention (June 12-15) in conjunction with the NACDA and Affiliates Convention at Orlando's Marriott World Center.
See the full list of recipients and features schedule.
by Claude Felton
University of Georgia Senior Associate Athletic Director.Sports Communications
Ultimate professional, family man, dedicated, caring, delightful colleague, class, selfless, The Butler Way, and producer of the country’s greatest game notes. All are used by peers, co-workers, and media to describe well-deserving 2013 CoSIDA Hall of Fame inductee Jim McGrath.
Jim has served as Butler University's sports information director since 1981 and assumed the title of associate athletic director in 1989 after four years as an assistant athletic director. In his current role, he is responsible for overseeing media relations for Butler’s 19 intercollegiate sports, and he’s the individual sport contact for men's basketball, football, men's soccer, softball, men's and women's golf and men's and women's cross country and track. During his tenure, McGrath has covered more than 2,000 Butler athletic events.
“In the four decades I have worked with Jim, I have found him to be the consummate professional, a warm and caring human being, and a delightful colleague,” said Bill Hancock, current Executive Director, College Football Playoff. “In short, he has all the attributes that every Hall of Fame member should possess. Jim is dedicated to the profession and to its members. Like all of us, he has devoted thousands of hours--millions, probably--to making sure everything has been done properly. He has sacrificed, grown, and thrived. He has laughed and hugged and celebrated. In short, Jim has done it all.”
Since assuming his post at Butler, McGrath has served as the host SID for four NCAA Division I Men's Final Fours and one Women's Final Four, as well as nine NCAA men's first and second rounds tournaments. He’s served on the NCAA Media Coordination staff for the Final Four since 2008, and he’s been a member of the NCAA Media Coordination Advisory Board since 2012.
“Jim has been a rock in the business,” says ESPN’s Andy Katz. “While there has been change at Butler over the years, Jim has been the one constant. Everyone talks about the Butler way but Jim exhibits that daily with his wholesome Midwestern approach to his job.”
"I have dealt with Jim plenty over the last few years, and he is the ultimate professional,” noted CBSSports.com senior writer Jeff Goodman. “As good at what he does as anyone in the industry. Class - and selfless."
McGrath has worked in press operations at amateur national championships in boxing, swimming and track and field. He was a press officer at the 1982 and 1983 USOC National Sports Festivals and the 1986 U.S. Olympic Festival, and he served as a press officer for the United States team at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis. He further served as co-chairman for the Media Center Development and Operations Committee for Pan American Games X and served on the Media Coordination staff for the 2002 World Basketball Championship.
"Jim is the ultimate professional in the industry, and the United States Olympic Committee was fortunate to have him as part of our Press Officer Teams at the Olympic Festivals and the Olympic Games,” said Mike Moran, former USOC Managing Director for Media and Public Relations. “He's deserving for Hall of Fame honors with CoSIDA because he has been, without question, one of the best in the business for years."
McGrath arrived at Butler after a 10-year stint as sports information director at his alma mater, Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.). While at Augustana, he served as the host SID for five NCAA Division III national basketball championships. He was publicity director for the Ed McMahon Quad-Cities Open professional golf tournament for five years, and he served five years as the director of communications for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. While at Augustana, he received 30 publications awards from CoSIDA, including 10 Best in the Nation certificates.
McGrath received the “Helping Hand” Award from the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association in 2010, and he was inducted into the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame in September of 2012. He also joined the Augustana College Tribe of Vikings Hall of Fame with the 1972-73 men’s basketball team in the fall of 2012.
“In my opinion, there is no one more deserving of this Hall of Fame honor than Jim McGrath,” said Chris Denari, television voice of the Indiana Pacers. “I am honored that I had the chance to work with Jim on many different levels, but my experience on staff with him at Butler University for 10 years made me understand what a true professional, colleague and family man he is. And as the radio voice of Butler basketball for 17 years, I can tell you this: NOBODY'S game notes/information are better than Jim McGrath's!”
A 1971 graduate of Augustana, McGrath and his wife, Judy, have three sons, Chad, Scott and Christopher and five grandchildren.