He sent his resume to 50 Division I schools. He loved it, but the money wasn't great on the Division III level, especially considering he also was the school's director of sports facilities and had two young sons at home. The school's public relations chief then asked him to write news releases for local newspapers.Īfter graduation, Augustana hired McGrath as its first sports information director, a job he held for 10 years. His playing career ended after two years at Augustana, but the coach asked him to travel with the team and keep statistics. McGrath grew up in the northern Chicago suburbs and played basketball at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. "He's flattered with all the attention he's gotten, but he would much rather be on the other end." "These last few months have been a little hard on him," said Judy McGrath, a physical therapist for Lawrence Township Schools and Jim's wife for 43 years. Many say they don't like the limelight, but revel in it when it's shined upon them. That's because McGrath is something of a rare bird. But the recognition, I would just kind of prefer to step in the background a little bit." Everyone is being so nice and so special. "I kind of jokingly say it's like a funeral march. "It's been a little overwhelming," McGrath said of the tributes. Television networks have noted his retirement during national broadcasts. The sellout crowd responded with a standing ovation. Butler officials honored him and his family March 3 during the final home game against Georgetown. Soon, he'll be leaving – with plans to play more golf, travel more with wife Judy and spend more time with his six grandchildren. He has been the one constant at Hinkle Fieldhouse as the men's basketball program went from afterthought on the Indianapolis sports scene to a national darling. He was Butler's first full-time sports information director. McGrath, 65, will retire in June after 34 years at the school. Maybe a slight exaggeration, but not much. "I think we're going to have to hire all of them to do everything he did," Collier said, laughing. Baseball Baseball: Twitter Baseball: Schedule Baseball: Roster Baseball: News Basketball Basketball: Twitter Basketball: Schedule Basketball: Roster Basketball: News Cross Country Cross Country: Twitter Cross Country: Schedule Cross Country: Roster Cross Country: News Football Football: Twitter Football: Schedule Football: Roster Football: News Golf Golf: Twitter Golf: Schedule Golf: Roster Golf: News Track & Field Track & Field: Twitter Track & Field: Schedule Track & Field: Roster Track & Field: News Wrestling Wrestling: Twitter Wrestling: Schedule Wrestling: Roster Wrestling: News Basketball Basketball: Twitter Basketball: Schedule Basketball: Roster Basketball: News Bowling Bowling: Twitter Bowling: Schedule Bowling: Roster Bowling: News Cross Country Cross Country: Twitter Cross Country: Schedule Cross Country: Roster Cross Country: News Golf Golf: Twitter Golf: Schedule Golf: Roster Golf: News Soccer Soccer: Twitter Soccer: Schedule Soccer: Roster Soccer: News Softball Softball: Twitter Softball: Schedule Softball: Roster Softball: News Track & Field Track & Field: Twitter Track & Field: Schedule Track & Field: Roster Track & Field: News Volleyball Volleyball: Twitter Volleyball: Schedule Volleyball: Roster Volleyball: News Staff Directory Athletics Auction Athletic Marketing Athletic Training Camps Hall of Fame Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee Licensing MO the Mule Media Relations Mo's Maniacs Multipurpose Building Monthly Calendar Spirit Squads Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Student-Athlete Information Name, Image, Likeness Information News Archive Audrey J.Butler University has received more than 200 applications from folks hoping to succeed retiring sports information director Jim McGrath – a good thing, athletic director Barry Collier said.
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