Marshall University Athletics
2023-24 Champions Advisory Board Roster
Roster
Mike Kirtner
Mike Kirtner grew up in Chattaroy, WV in Mingo County before his family moved to Altizer. Kirtner attended Marshall University and began broadcasting with WMUL as a young adult and was instrumental in relaying information from Huntington to the world in the hours and days following the 1970 air tragedy involving the university’s football team and boosters. The following year, Kirtner began his professional career as a broadcaster. After graduating from Marshall University in 1973 and working in broadcasting throughout the country, Kirtner was afforded the opportunity to return to Huntington in 1992. At this time, he established Kindred Communications, a local multimedia company with radio roots. The Kindred Communications’ stations 93.7 The Dawg and ESPN Radio 94.1 and AM 930 have been the flagship stations for Marshall University Football and Basketball throughout the company’s tenure.
Kirtner chose to come home to Huntington to afford his children the same community he found as a Son of Marshall. When ‘We Are Marshall’ premiered in 2006, Kirtner took the helm to emcee the ‘Green Carpet’ street party in front of the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center to celebrate the University’s story being shared with the world. In addition to broadcasting the athletics, Kirtner has served as the PA announcer for Marshall Basketball for over 30 years and was named the 2019 Distinguished Alumni by the Marshall University Alumni Association and was inducted into the Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications Hall of Fame in the class of 2021.
