Cavanaugh Departs as Long-Time Public Address Voice of JMU Football

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Jack Cavanaugh, the primary public address voice for the first 50 seasons of James Madison football, has officially stepped down from his role at Bridgeforth Stadium prior to the 2023 season. He will be honored for his impact and longevity during the 2023 season.

Cavanaugh was the P.A. announcer beginning with JMU's first season in 1972 and announced every game until electing out of the COVID-impacted spring season in 2021. He returned for the fall 2021 season before then missing a few games during the most recent 2022 season due to health reasons.

During his run as JMU football P.A. announcer, Cavanaugh witnessed the Dukes' rise from their inception in 1972 playing mostly junior varsity, military and NCAA Division III programs to its first game in Bridgeforth Stadium in 1974 and a rise to the Division I level by the end of the decade. Cavanaugh called over 40 seasons at the Division I-AA/FCS level before ending his career with JMU's first season of FBS competition in its first Sun Belt Conference season in 2022.

In 2017, JMU honored Cavanaugh with the Ray V. Sonner Spirit Award, which is presented annually to someone who embodies JMU spirit and contributes to the passion that we exhibit as supporters of James Madison University.

That same season in 2017, JMU alumni Joe ('79) and Debbie ('78) Showker contributed to establishing the Jack Cavanaugh Award, which is presented annually to recognize football, men's basketball and women's basketball student-athletes who embody the commitment, service and spirit exemplified by Jack in his decades supporting JMU Athletics.

In addition to his football duties, Cavanaugh also served as longtime public address voice with JMU men's and women's basketball. His time in that role spanned three facilities, beginning his time in Godwin Hall, transitioning to the JMU Convocation Center in 1982 and ushering in JMU's new home in the Atlantic Union Bank Center in 2021.

An educator for more than 30 years in Harrisonburg City Schools, Cavanaugh also filled a similar public address role for Harrisonburg High School and is a member of the school's hall of fame. He is a 1960 graduate of Bridgewater College and has been an active community member serving in multiple organizations.

To fill the JMU football public address vacancy, JMU Athletics will host open auditions at Bridgeforth Stadium in late July. In order to participate, all individuals who are interested must formally apply for the open position at JMU's joblink employment website.

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