Photo by: Jack Murrey
Bobcat Play-by-Play Voice Zach Mackey Earns Montana Sportscaster of the Year Award
1/21/2022 4:23:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball
Zach Mackey calls MSU football and basketball games
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Zach Mackey, the third-year broadcaster for Montana State football and men's basketball, got to see it all for Montana State Athletics during the 2021-22 season.
He got to check off his bucket list both a football national championship game and men's basketball NCAA tournament appearance as the Voice of the Bobcats this year.
"It was one of those seasons you hope to be a part of," Mackey said. "To get to call a national championship and an NCAA tournament, to see both those teams achieve some of their most successful years ever, it was pretty neat to get a first hand account of it all. I had an opportunity to be part of their biggest moments not just this year, but in Bobcat Athletics in a really long time."
Mackey joined the Bobcats in 2019-20 as part of the Bobcat Sports Properties team, and served as analyst on football broadcasts that fall. He was elevated to play-by-play status the next spring, and has held down men's basketball play-by-play chores since his arrival.
Mackey's stretch during this season was capped off personally as this past January he was honored as the 2021 Montana Sportscaster of the Year honors from the National Sports Media Association. It's an honor he said he appreciates because he knows that he serves as the voice for a fan base that admires and appreciates its athletes and coaches.
"It's nice to do this at Montana State because people really care," Mackey said. "They're engaged and they want to see the Bobcats do well. It's great to work at a place where people care and are invested in it. When I was young, I wanted to be at a university that played in the biggest games and to have been able to do them in both football and basketball this year, it was a lot of fun."
A 2018 graduate of the University of Iowa, Mackey broadcasts Hawkeyes baseball in the spring, and during his time at UI helped on football pre- and post-game coverage while contributing to men's and women's basketball broadcasts.
He also worked as a recruiting assistant for Iowa football, called a variety of sports for the Big 10 Network, and earned the Bob Sheppard High School P.A. Announcer of the Year Award and the Bob Costas High School Play-by-Play Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2013 in his hometown of Geneseo, Illinois.
Mackey has also excelled in a wide array of roles at Montana State. He has called Bobcat volleyball matches for ESPN+, hosted Bobcat Insider chronicling MSU Athletics, and increased Bobcat Athletics' presence on social media.
For him, to get the honor isn't just about personal accolades, it also shows his role in the state with the position he has as Voice of the Bobcats.
"It's a cool thing to be able to be recognized," Mackey said. "For the recognition to come from fellow sportscaster and sportswriters in the state, people that are in the business, that's certainly rewarding. To get this award and be able to represent Montana State in the best way possible is great."
Mackey will be honested at the NMSA annual awards banquet this June. Find the full story of NMSA state-by-state and national award winners here.
#GoCatsGo
He got to check off his bucket list both a football national championship game and men's basketball NCAA tournament appearance as the Voice of the Bobcats this year.
"It was one of those seasons you hope to be a part of," Mackey said. "To get to call a national championship and an NCAA tournament, to see both those teams achieve some of their most successful years ever, it was pretty neat to get a first hand account of it all. I had an opportunity to be part of their biggest moments not just this year, but in Bobcat Athletics in a really long time."
Mackey joined the Bobcats in 2019-20 as part of the Bobcat Sports Properties team, and served as analyst on football broadcasts that fall. He was elevated to play-by-play status the next spring, and has held down men's basketball play-by-play chores since his arrival.
Mackey's stretch during this season was capped off personally as this past January he was honored as the 2021 Montana Sportscaster of the Year honors from the National Sports Media Association. It's an honor he said he appreciates because he knows that he serves as the voice for a fan base that admires and appreciates its athletes and coaches.
"It's nice to do this at Montana State because people really care," Mackey said. "They're engaged and they want to see the Bobcats do well. It's great to work at a place where people care and are invested in it. When I was young, I wanted to be at a university that played in the biggest games and to have been able to do them in both football and basketball this year, it was a lot of fun."
A 2018 graduate of the University of Iowa, Mackey broadcasts Hawkeyes baseball in the spring, and during his time at UI helped on football pre- and post-game coverage while contributing to men's and women's basketball broadcasts.
He also worked as a recruiting assistant for Iowa football, called a variety of sports for the Big 10 Network, and earned the Bob Sheppard High School P.A. Announcer of the Year Award and the Bob Costas High School Play-by-Play Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2013 in his hometown of Geneseo, Illinois.
Mackey has also excelled in a wide array of roles at Montana State. He has called Bobcat volleyball matches for ESPN+, hosted Bobcat Insider chronicling MSU Athletics, and increased Bobcat Athletics' presence on social media.
For him, to get the honor isn't just about personal accolades, it also shows his role in the state with the position he has as Voice of the Bobcats.
"It's a cool thing to be able to be recognized," Mackey said. "For the recognition to come from fellow sportscaster and sportswriters in the state, people that are in the business, that's certainly rewarding. To get this award and be able to represent Montana State in the best way possible is great."
Mackey will be honested at the NMSA annual awards banquet this June. Find the full story of NMSA state-by-state and national award winners here.
#GoCatsGo
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