The University of Michigan is losing a legend.
The Wolverines athletic department announced that long-time SID Bruce Madej will be retiring at the end of the 2013-14 school year. Madej first joined Michigan's sports information staff in 1978, and because the Sports Information Director in 1982. He held that job for 28 years before becoming an Associate Athletic Director for Special Projects in 2010.
Under Madej's direction, Michigan was one of the first major schools in the country to make extensive use of the Internet, beginning with a groundbreaking web site in 1994 and going through the Twitter accounts that now exist for each Wolverines team.
“I have had the privilege to be an integral part of many of the greatest moments in Michigan athletic history, yet those achievements rank a distant second to the friendships and the relationships I have been able to build and maintain with student-athletes, coaches, department team members, ‘M’ letter winners, alums, supporters, fans and the media through the years,” Madej said in the statement.
“I have been especially blessed with those who have been close to me on a daily basis—my family and the outstanding group of public relations and publication experts – who made this career and lifestyle so rewarding.”
Madej is a life-long Michigander, growing up in Dearborn before attending University of Detroit High School and Western Michigan. He worked as a sportswriter in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor before joining Michigan.
