FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 10, 2026) – Northern Arizona University Athletics, along with Learfield's NAU Lumberjack Sports Properties, announced the hiring of
James Malamas as the department's new football and men's basketball play-by-play announcer on Monday. Malamas will handle the play-by-play duties for the department's simulcast broadcasts on both ESPN+ and the NAU Lumberjack Radio Network presented by Northern Arizona Healthcare.
Malamas succeeds Mitch Strohman, Voice of the Lumberjacks for 30 years, following Strohman's retirement at the conclusion of the 2025-26 men's basketball season.
"We are excited to announce
James Malamas as the new play-by-play voice for Lumberjack football and men's basketball," said
Dr. Richard Duran, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "James has been a reliable and familiar voice for Lumberjack fans as a play-by-play announcer, color commentator and sideline reporter for five seasons now and we are thrilled that he'll be able to build on the standard that Mitch Strohman held on the headset for three decades."
Malamas' first game on the headset will be Saturday, Aug. 29 when the Lumberjack football team kicks off the season at Findlay Toyota Field at the Walkup Skydome versus Eastern Washington. He will pair with longtime NAU Football color commentator Kevin Stephens on the call on both ESPN+ and the Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network.
Malamas has served as the primary play-by-play voice for NAU women's basketball, soccer and volleyball on ESPN+ since 2021. In addition to his play-by-play duties, he worked alongside Strohman as color commentator for NAU men's basketball and served as sideline reporter for select football games.
"I am so excited for this incredible opportunity," Malamas said. "I first want to extend my sincere gratitude to
Dr. Richard Duran for trusting me with this coveted position. I would also like to thank Mitch Strohman and congratulate him on a legendary career. It has been an honor to work alongside him and learn from him. I am proud to not only call him a mentor, but a true friend."
In addition to traveling with the Lumberjack women's basketball team to the Big Sky Conference Championship, the WNIT and WBIT in recent postseasons, Malamas also was the play-by-play voice for the 2023 Big Sky Soccer Championship and 2025 Big Sky Indoor Track & Field Championships, both hosted by NAU in Flagstaff.
Malamas also has served as a digital production assistant in the athletic department, a role in which he ran video shoots, edited green screen footage and operated cameras for NAU's in-house video boards in the Walkup Skydome.
In his new role, Malamas will also serve as emcee and host for select NAU Athletics shows and events, in addition to his football and men's basketball play-by-play duties.
"I have called Flagstaff my home for the past five years and love being a part of this inspiring community," Malamas added. "I look forward to developing deeper connections within NAU and with the dedicated Lumberjacks fan base. I am thrilled to continue to broadcast and share the stories of NAU Athletics. I can't wait to see everyone in the Skydome. Go Jacks!"
A graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in sports journalism, Malamas began his career in Tempe with as sports broadcast report for Cronkite News, where he served as a beat reporter for the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. Malamas also held roles with Sports360AZ and Inferno Intel, Arizona State University's student-run media outlet.
