Mike Zucconi enters his third year (2008-09 season) in charge of the Sports Information Department after graduating from the school in the spring of 2005 and becomes Eastern Mennonite University's second full-time SID.

Zucconi returned to his alma mater from James Madison University, where he worked as an intern in the Sports Media Relations Office. At JMU, he served as the primary contact for softball, tennis, gymnastics, golf, and fencing. Prior to that, he served a four month baseball internship with the Princeton (W.Va.) Rays, a rookie league affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and a member of the Appalachian League. Zucconi also worked four years in the Sports Information Office at EMU as a student, assisting with game statistics, press releases, and other assignments.

“We are thrilled to find someone of Mike's caliber to fill the vacancy this close to the start of the school year,” King said of the hire. “He is familiar with both EMU as an institution and the specific responsibilities of the SID position. His work in the SID's office as a student, the internship at JMU this past year, and his passion for EMU make him a great fit for the position. Having worked for Kevin while he was a student, Mike is well-suited to keep the sports information department at the standards that Kevin helped to establish. Mike is eager and willing to learn and I am confident he will be a good fit.”

EMU Vice President for Student Life, Dr, Ken L. Nafziger added, “I am pleased to welcome Michael Zucconi back to his alma mater where he began working in 2001 as a student assistant in the sports information office. He understands who we are and what EMU stands for, which will really help him communicate the message we want to get out about the quality of the EMU athletic experience that goes beyond wins and losses.”

In his role, Zucconi is in charge of publicity of the Royals 15 sports and the athletics website. Zucconi is a member of both the College of Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the Virginia State Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID). This past year Zucconi was named the 2007-08 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Sports Information Director of the Year.

"I am excited to be joining my alma mater as a member of the athletic department,” Zucconi commented upon his hiring in 2006. “During my four years at Eastern Mennonite I was able to grasp a better understanding of who I am and gain invaluable life experiences through my cross cultural experience. I look forward to advancing the athletics department and reconnecting with all the people I worked with as a student at EMU."

Zucconi, who graduated from nearby Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, Va., currently lives in Harrisonburg, Va., with his wife Stephanie.