Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — Nov. 2016
IOWA CITY, Iowa —Zach Mackey has been named the new voice for University of Iowa baseball in 2017, it was announced today by UI Athletics and its multimedia rights holder, Learfield’s Hawkeye Sports Properties.
Having called early-season games the past two seasons, Mackey is primed to take over the full-time play-by-play duties when the Hawkeyes open their season at South Florida in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2017.
Mackey also served as the play-by-play voice for the Chillicothe Mudcats in the MINK (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas) League in the summer of 2016. He covered 45 games over a 50-day span from June 1 to the middle of July. The games were broadcast locally on KCHI 102.5 and 1010 AM.
“Zach did a great job as the early-season voice the last two years, and we’re excited to have him as the voice of Iowa baseball,” said UI head coach Rick Heller. “He does an excellent job, and we are looking forward to having Zach on board full-time.”
Mackey, a junior majoring in sport management with a minor in mass communications, has also been a broadcaster for BTN Student U and a reporter/anchor for Daily Iowan TV. Mackey has called action for eight Iowa sports, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, and wrestling.
The Geneseo, Illinois, native is an award-winning talent. He was an All-American by the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America in 2016, being named one of the top six collegiate sportscasters in the country. He was the only underclassmen in the top 10.
Mackey was also the recipient of the Bob Sheppard High School P.A. Announcer of the Year Award, while being the runner-up for the Bob Costas High School Play-by-Play Broadcaster of the Year in 2013 as a prep at Geneseo High School.
“I am excited to join the baseball broadcasting team for Learfield full-time,” said Mackey. “I can’t thank Gabe Aguirre and Rick Heller enough for giving me this opportunity. I can assure you I will do my best to represent Learfield, the baseball program, and University of Iowa in a professional and positive manner.
“My goal is to be a full-time play-by-play broadcaster when I graduate and to get this opportunity as a student while pursuing my degree is a huge career boost. I know how important experience is in broadcasting, and consider myself lucky to be able to gain this experience.”
“While this is considered a rare opportunity for a student, Zach has proven to be exceptional on the microphone, and knowledgeable in every aspect of the game,” said Aguirre, general manager for Hawkeye Sports Properties. “Like coach Heller, we’re excited to see him come on board as the official voice.”
For additional details on UI baseball, visit the official athletics website www.hawkeyesports.com.
Learfield has long been immersed in the collegiate athletics landscape. In addition to Iowa, the company manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for 120 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas. The company also supports athletic departments at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup. To learn more about Learfield and its history, visit www.learfieldsports.com.
