(LEBANON, Ill. - Feb. 4) - McKendree University Interim Athletic Director Anthony Francis announced Thursday that Mike Morgan will serve as the Bearcats' new Director of Sports Information. Morgan comes to McKendree from Lindenwood University where he served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Communications and Game Operations.
"Mike brings with him a strong background in all the things we need for an efficient and successful Sports Information department," said Francis. "He has a passion for promoting and sharing the stories of others, particularly when it comes to the student-athlete experience. I have no doubt that Mike will be and instant contributor in our department."
Morgan will succeed longtime McKendree Sports Information Director, Scott Cummings, who passed away in December 2020 after a year-long illness. Cummings was the ultimate servant. His outstanding contributions to the department and his increased branding efforts helped McKendree University gain national exposure. His commitment to the student-athlete experience and his dedication to Bearcat athletics created the foundation for the McKendree Athletics Sports Information Department.
"First of all I would like to thank Mr. Francis and the hiring committee for giving me this opportunity. I am truly humbled by their trust in me," said Morgan. "I am also extremely honored to be the individual to come in and continue the great tradition of this department that our dear friend Scott Cummings worked so hard to accomplish in his great career. There is a great hole in the department and industry with Scott being gone but I will do everything in my power to continue his legacy and make him proud. Scott is greatly missed by many and we will never forget him. I am super excited to join the Bearcat family and serve the great student-athletes and coaches of this great university."
Morgan started his career at Lindenwood in 2009 in the sports information department as a graduate assistant. Over his almost next 10 years, Morgan would hold numerous roles. He moved from Assistant Sports Information to the Director of Game Operations then was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Communications and Game Operations.
During his time in the Communications office at Lindenwood Morgan served as the primary contact for numerous Lindenwood sports, including men's and women's basketball, baseball to name a few. To go along with his primary sports, Morgan assisted in designing game-day programs, as well as the graphic design work that is displayed on the Lindenwood athletic website and two re-designs of the website.
Morgan has spent time assisting in numerous national championships. He assisted with the 2010 and 2011 NAIA Swimming National Championships, assisted on press row for the 2010 and 2011 NAIA Basketball National Championships and in 2012, he worked on press row for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. He has also been in charge of numerous NCAA Regional events. In 2009, Morgan was the play-by-play voice for the Lindenwood football team who played in the NAIA National Championship game against Sioux Falls. That was Morgan's second stint as the play-by-play voice.
Morgan received his bachelor's degree in mass communication from Lindenwood in 2004 and his master's degree in business communications in 2011.
Mike and his wife, Nichole, reside in St. Peters, Mo. and have a son, Kevin, and daughters, Natalee, Reaghan and Jordyn who passed away at the age of 4.
