The long-time Marshall Athletics administrator will be Lamar’s new Athletic Director
By Bill Cornwell
One of the longest-serving members of Marshall University’s athletics department is leaving Huntington for a major career opportunity.
Jeff O’Malley, who has been MU’s Associate Athletic Director and Chief of Staff for more than two decades, has been named as the Director of Athletics at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
Lamar is currently a member of the Western Athletic Conference, although it’s moving to the Southland Conference on July 1st, 2023.
He’ll begin working at Lamar on July 1st.
O’Malley is looking forward to this new career challenge.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead Lamar University Athletics. This is a program with a proud tradition of excellence, and we will do all we can to make it even better both in the classroom and in competition,” O’Malley said. “I met many great people through this process, and I would like to thank Dean Spina and Don Shaver for their work co-chairing the search committee. I also would like to thank President Taylor for providing me with the opportunity to work with him again and share his vision for Lamar University. I am looking forward to meeting our student-athletes, collaborating with the campus community, and working with our coaches and staff to provide a first-class student-athlete experience.”
The hiring reunites O’Malley with Lamar University President Jaime Taylor, who was Marshall University’s Provost until assuming the Lamar presidency in 2021.
Taylor is looking forward to again work with O’Malley.
“Jeff O’Malley is a trusted collaborator who understands it takes all facets of a university to support student-athletes,” Taylor said. “He established very positive relationships with faculty and with academic affairs at Marshall University and has an absolutely stellar reputation for ensuring student-athletes are successful in the classroom as well as on the field of play.”
O’Malley came to Marshall in July 2002 from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst to work under then-Marshall Athletic Director Bob “Kayo” Marcum. O’Malley then worked under Marcum’s replacement, Mike Hamrick, assuming responsibilities for several sports, including men’s basketball and men’s soccer.
When Hamrick stepped down as Marshall’s athletic director last summer, O’Malley was named as interim athletic director, shepherding Marshall Athletics during the Covid-19 pandemic. O’Malley also oversaw Marshall’s move from Conference USA to the Sun Belt Conference. MU joins the Sun Belt officially on July 1st.
O’Malley was one of the finalists for the Marshall Athletic Directors job when Christian Spears was hired for the position this past February.
Hamrick was happy about O’Malley’s move to Lamar.
“I am very excited not only for Jeff but for Lamar University. He is an outstanding college administrator and he was very instrumental in all the athletic success we had here at Marshall University,” Hamrick said. “We won a lot of championships, we built a lot of facilities and most importantly, we graduated a lot of student-athletes and Mr. O’Malley was a big part of that. I have no doubt he will bring a vision to Lamar University that will enhance and take your intercollegiate athletic program to a high level.”
In August 2021, O’Malley was also named NCAA Secretary Rules Editor for Men’s Basketball. This is a role he will begin Sept. 1 in addition to his duties as Athletic Director at Lamar.
Marshall Football Transfer Portal News–There is one fewer body in the Marshall Football Tight End room as redshirt sophomore Hayden Hagler announced on social media Wednesday that he’s entering the NCAA Transfer Portal. The 6-4, 222-pound, redshirt sophomore saw limited playing time last fall and recorded no statistics. He will have three years of eligibility remaining and will be eligible immediately.
