With a career in college athletics that spanned four decades, Bob Marcum left a legacy at several colleges.
Marcum wrapped up that career at Marshall in his hometown of Huntington where he served as athletic director for seven years until 2009.
Marcum passed away Tuesday at the age of 87.
“Bob Marcum served his alma mater as AD with true dedication, an indomitable spirit and a love of all things green and white. Under his leadership, Marshall Athletics saw significant bricks and mortar growth including renovations of the Shewey Building, football weight room, new locker rooms for men’s and women’s basketball and a new softball complex,” Marshall University said in a statement. “We are grateful for his vision and leadership that served our university and student athletes so well. We send our sympathy to his family and friends.”
Marshall Athletics mourns the passing of former Athletic Director Bob Marcum, who served as a tremendous leader from 2002-09. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Marcum family and those closest to him. pic.twitter.com/Op2oY5YG8t
— Marshall Athletics (@HerdZone) July 24, 2024
Marcum’s career in college athletics began as associate athletic director at Iowa State from 1971-1978. He became athletic director at Kansas in 1978 and held that position until 1982, before assuming the same title at South Carolina.
Marcum later went on to become vice president of Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway, before getting back into college athletics as athletic direct at Massachusetts in 1993.
Marcum held that role until 2002, leading UMass through a defining era of athletics that featured four Atlantic 10 Championships for the men’s basketball team, which qualified for the NCAA Tournament six straight seasons and reached the Final Four in 1996 — the program’s only appearance on that stage to this day. The Minutemen were then coached by John Calipari, who developed a close relationship with Marcum.
Sad news. Bob Marcum passed away this morning. He and I had a great couple hours in the hospital. Talked about our time together at Umass, he as AD and me his coach. We laughed cried and prayed.
He had on the Kentucky 2012 national championship ring. He was a part of…— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) July 24, 2024
Additionally, the UMass football team was NCAA I-AA National Champions in 1998.
After completing his tenure at UMass, Marcum returned to Huntington and helped secure his alma mater’s inclusion into Conference USA in the fall of 2005 as Marshall moved on from the Mid-American Conference.
Marcum was a football player at Marshall and lettered in 1956 before injuries cut his career short.