Marcus Dawal Jr. was named the Sports Information Director at Azusa Pacific University in February 2025, bringing his passion for storytelling and a broad range of experience in athletic communications back to his alma mater. A proud 2022 graduate of APU, Dawal returns to serve the Cougar community with a mission to amplify the voices and accomplishments of its student-athletes through strategic media coverage, dynamic digital content, and authentic storytelling.
Dawal most recently served as the Director of Athletic Communications at Oral Roberts University, where he helped guide the department through a historic year. He led communications for ORU Baseball’s 2024 Summit League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, delivering high-impact coverage that elevated the program’s national profile. He also chronicled the standout season of cross country star Abraham Chelangam, who broke multiple program records en route to a Summit League title and NCAA National Championship berth, and helped showcase ORU Men’s Soccer’s run to the top of the league, with players like Luis Flores and Omar Mora advancing to the professional ranks.
Prior to his time at Oral Roberts, Dawal was the Assistant Athletic Director of Strategic Communications at Hawai‘i Pacific University, where he managed media relations and content strategy for all 15 athletic programs. His communications career also includes experience as a Broadcast Intern with the Oakland Athletics, a Sports Information Graduate Assistant at Concordia University Irvine, and a Marketing Intern with USL Championship-winning Orange County Soccer Club.
A native of the Bay Area, Dawal competed as a student-athlete at Azusa Pacific, earning All-PacWest honors in the 800 meters for the Cougar Track & Field team. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from APU in 2022, and later completed a Master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine in 2024.
