Northern Arizona University has announced the merger of NAU-TV and the NAU Athletic Department, a move that is effective immediately. The university stated that this change aims to improve revenue generation through enhanced digital media production and to better align resources by consolidating all broadcast operations for home Lumberjack Athletics events under one team.
NAU and its athletic department plan to continue producing digital media content and delivering high-quality broadcasts of athletics events for fans nationwide. Uri Farkas, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, said, “NAU-TV has been instrumental in making Lumberjack Athletics accessible to fans, families and alumni across the country for more than 30 years and we’re excited to continue to do so under this merger.” He also expressed gratitude toward Mitch Strohman: “I’d also like to extend my deepest appreciation for Mitch Strohman, who has been a voice that Lumberjacks can resonate with. On behalf of NAU Athletics, we congratulate Mitch on a selfless and dedicated career to this university.”
As part of the transition, longtime play-by-play announcer Mitch Strohman will retire at the end of the current basketball season. Strohman began calling games for Northern Arizona University in 1991 and has covered over 1,100 games as well as more than 100 shows related to NAU Athletics. Since 2016, he has also served as General Manager of NAU-TV.
Reflecting on his career at the university, Strohman said, “Over the past 30-plus years, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve NAU as the Voice of the Lumberjacks, a former teacher in the School of Communication, the General Manager of NAU-TV, and as one of the public faces of this great university.” He added: “As I step into the next chapter of my life in retirement, I’ll be eternally grateful for the countless thousands of students, athletes, coaches, support staff, administrators, parents, families, alumni and fans who welcomed me into their lives and allowed me the privilege of being their ‘connection’ to NAU and their Lumberjacks. I’ll always be proud to be a Lumberjack.”
