WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCWSports.com will look at the members of the UNCW Department of Athletics staff with a weekly feature called "Seahawk Staff Spotlight." Each Tuesday, the website will profile a different member of the staff.

The final edition of the 2020 calendar year shines the spotlight on Mike Vaccaro, who has served as the "Voice of the Seahawks" and the Assistant Director of Seahawk Sports Marketing since 2004. Vaccaro, a Syracuse graduate, is the radio play-by-play announcer for UNCW men's basketball and baseball broadcasts and assists the department with other projects.   

What do you remember about your first day working at UNCW? 
How welcoming everyone was. I had known some of the staff from my time at Campbell University, so the transition to UNCW was seamless.

What is one of your favorite memories of working at UNCW?
It has to be calling the 2006 CAA Men's Basketball Championship and getting to call a game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. I grew up watching the tournament and to be courtside calling a game was amazing.  

What does working at UNCW mean to you?
It's less of a job and more who I am. I am proud to work and promote UNCW Athletics and work to spread the positive messages about the Seahawks.

If you were an athlete, what jersey number would you want to wear and why?
#3 has always appealed to me. It also represents some Seahawk greats, including Coach Mark Scalf and John Goldsberry … along with another Seahawk Russell Wilson.   

Did you play sports in college? If so, what sport and where did you play?
I did not play sports but worked in sports. I was a student manager with the Syracuse football team during the 1991-94 seasons. It was the first time I had an inside view of college athletics and loved every minute of it. I had a chance to be on the sidelines for some historic moments in Syracuse Football history, including two bowl games (Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa and the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona). I was the head student manager during my junior and senior seasons.

Quick Hits
Favorite Food: Seafood
Favorite Color: Teal and Orange
Favorite Fast Food: Smithfield's
Favorite Movie: October Sky
Favorite Actor/Actress: Zach Braff (Scrubs)
Favorite TV Show: Scrubs
Favorite Book: The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Favorite Midnight Snack: I don't eat that late
What is One Thing People Don't Know About You?: I love pugs (including my dog, Buddy)

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