HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville Department of Athletics announced on Monday that longtime Huntsville sports fixture Mark McCarter has been hired to fill the newly-created position of Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations. 
 
McCarter will lead and direct the department's efforts in corporate partnerships, marketing, public relations, advertising, licensing, branding, promotions, major gifts, endowments, and alumni relationships.
 
"We are excited about this new position and this opportunity to grow our department and our brand while strengthening our presence in the community," Director of Athletics Dr. Cade Smith said. "To be able to have someone as entrenched in Huntsville as Mark and someone with his connections and experiences is incredibly valuable. Mark is going to make our university and department better, and we're excited to have him as a Charger."
 
Most recently McCarter has been with the Huntsville-Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, helping bring sports, hobby, and recreational events to the Tennessee Valley including playing a role in securing Huntsville's position as the host of the SEC Gymnastics Championship in 2021. 
 
"I've always had a lot of regard for UAH athletics, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the team now," said McCarter. "My biggest goal is to make sure even more people in the area can share my appreciation for the program, and I can't wait to get started in this new position."
 
Many in Huntsville will know of McCarter from his decades-long tenure with the Huntsville Times where he worked both in sports and news, penning columns including regularly on UAH athletics, all part of a decorated journalism career that spanned from the 1970s and included stops at the Chattanooga News-Free Press and The Anniston Star. He has additionally written a pair of books, and his work has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Fortune, Sport Magazine, USA Today, and the New York Times.
 
McCarter also previously served as a senior account executive with Cohn & Wolfe, handling the company's Penzoil NASCAR account while also working with the company on their efforts surrounding Super Bowl XXVII in Atlanta, and he also was the vice president at Creative Resources, Inc., in Chattanooga where he managed the graphics and public relations departments. During that time he served as Public Relations Director of the Greater Chattanooga Sports and Events Committee and also was a consultant for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
 
McCarter will start in his new role with the Chargers on Oct. 25.