SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University Sports Information Director Bill Morgal was announced Thursday as a recipient of the 2023 Irving T. Marsh Award by the Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM).
 
Morgal will be presented with the honour at an awards dinner during the 2023 EAST-COMM Workshop on June 22 in Springfield, Mass.
 
The Irving T. Marsh Award is considered one of the highest honours EAST-COMM bestows. It is given annually to one or two individuals who, in the opinion of the membership and executive board, has exhibited excellence in the field of athletic communications. First presented in 1966, the awards are named after Irving T. Marsh, the East Coast Athletic Conference Service Bureau founder and director until his retirement in 1973.
 
The Marsh Award will be the second and highest honor presented to Morgal. Morgal received the inaugural Division II Excellence in Communications Award by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for coverage of the SU track & field teams and work that provided exposure to track & field athletes throughout the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. During his tenure as the interim sports information director, Morgal was named the 2009-10 "Raider of the Year" for support of Shippensburg athletics.

"It is truly humbling to be recognized by my peers for service to the profession that I have grown to love," said Morgal. "All that I've ever tried to do is approach each day with the intent of doing the best job that I can, to the best of my ability."
 
Morgal, now in his 15th year at his alma mater, took over as interim sports information director for the 2008-10 academic years before becoming the official sports information director afterwards. Morgal has transitioned the office with his work in publications, graphic design, writing, the athletic website and as an overall communications professional at Shippensburg.

"I am absolutely thrilled for Bill and his recognition by the Eastern Athletic Communications Association as the recipient of the 2023 Irving T. Marsh Service Bureau Award," said Athletic Director, Jeff Michaels. "Bill's work promoting Shippensburg University and its student-athletes, coaches, and teams is exceptional.  He works tirelessly to highlight the university's athletics accomplishments and has developed his office into one of the best in college sports.  Potentially more important than what he does in his job is how he does it.  Bill brings a positive approach to his tasks and is always looking to help co-workers and colleagues both at Shippensburg and beyond.  The list of past winners for this award includes many legends, and Bill fits right in with this distinguished group."
 
Morgal and his staff are responsible for the design and layout of the official Athletics website, www.shipraiders.com, as well as all content on the site. The Sports Information Office also runs all of the official social media accounts for Shippensburg Athletics, including the department's video initiatives and YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Morgal added, "Student-athletes are the reason that each of us who has a job in collegiate athletics is able to be employed. That perspective is not lost on me. By receiving this award, I will try to take some pride in the fact that we've done a good job at Ship over the last 15 years, both in the field of play, and also behind the scenes."
 
In addition to his responsibilities at SU, Morgal serves as a D2SIDA regional award chair for women's basketball and is a regional voting member for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Morgal is also the chair of the SU Hall of Fame Committee, as well as assisting in the office with photography, and associate editor in the Shippensburg University Magazine.

"You won't find a more dedicated and respected sports information professional," said Director of Communications and Marketing, Megan Silverstrim. "He deserves his recognition and we're honored that such an individual is a part of our Shippensburg University team!"
 
Morgal also previously served as an executive board member with EAST-COMM, serving as the charities chair and as the vendor relations/marketing chair. He is currently a member of the College Sports Communicators (CSC) and is a proud mentor to his graduate assistants and student employees.

"My name may have been selected, but the work we produce at Shippensburg is the byproduct of a team effort," said Morgal. "It is a loving collaboration of myself, my graduate assistants, fellow staff members, student workers, and administrators joining forces in an effort to positively promote and publicize the Raiders who make us proud each and every day."
 
Morgal becomes the ninth athletic communication professional from any of the 18 current Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) institutions to be recognized as a Marsh Award winner.
 
PSAC ATHLETIC COMMUNICATORS TO WIN THE MARSH AWARD
1986 – Pete Nevins (East Stroudsburg)
1998 – Jim Hollister (Bloomsburg)
2003 – Steve McCloskey (Mansfield)
2004 – Greg Wright (Millersville)
2005 – John Leisering (Mercyhurst)
2014 – Tom McGuire (Bloomsburg)
2016 – Bob Shreve (Edinboro)
2022 – Jon Holtz (Slippery Rock)
2023 – Bill Morgal (Shippensburg)