Zagacki, Bailey Jr. to Receive UMSHoF President's Distinguished Service Award

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami Hurricanes broadcasters Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey, Jr. have been selected to receive the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame President’s Distinguished Service Award at the UMSHoF’s 51st Annual Induction Banquet on Thursday, May 2 at Jungle Island.

Zagacki, who has been part of the South Florida sports scene for 40 years, began working Hurricanes games during the 1983 National Championship season. He has worked every possible broadcasting position: from pregame show, to sideline reporter, to color analyst alongside legendary Canes announcer Sonny Hirsch, and will begin his 20th year as play-by-play announcer this coming season. He also does play-by-play for Hurricanes basketball and baseball, having recorded the third most games called by any broadcaster in College World Series history.

Bailey, a former center during for the Hurricanes during the Howard Schnellenbereger/Jim Kelly era, and a member of Iron Arrow, the Highest Honor Attained at the University of Miami, began his broadcasting career as a sideline reporter during the 1990’s for five seasons and will begin his 20th year in the booth alongside Zagacki as the color analyst for Hurricanes football. With their broadcast of the Pinstripe Bowl game last December, Bailey and Zagacki called their 250th consecutive football game together as a broadcasting team.

Past recipients of the UMSHoF President’s Distinguished Service Award include broadcaster Tony Segreto, longtime public address announcer Jay Rokeach, former faculty athletic representative and ACC President Dr. Clyde McCoy, secretary to the Miami football coaches for 37 years, Myrna Schneider, and longtime Hurricanes radio broadcaster, the late Sonny Hirsch. The last recipient of the award was in 2015 to longtime Canes security director and current Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak.

For information on tickets, go to UMSportsHallofFame.com or call the UMSHoF at 305-284-2775.