The Lake Superior State University Athletic Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Matt Pocket as Assistant Athletic Director – Director of Athletic Communications. Pocket comes into LSSU with over a decade of professional communications and media experience.
"We're thrilled to bring Matt on board here at LSSU," said LSSU Director of Athletics Tory Lindley. "He's been a valuable part of the Laker team for many years and bringing him on in this new capacity is a great opportunity for us to advance our communications operation and story-telling."
Matt spent 11 years at Sovereign Communications, the official radio broadcast partner of Laker athletics, including nine in Sault Ste. Marie. During the last several seasons, he's been featured on LSSU's broadcast team on WYSS-FM, WKNW-AM, Midco Sports Plus, and FloCollege platforms.
"I jumped at the chance to join the LSSU team," Matt said. "The vision, energy and drive of Tory and university president Dr. David Travis are infectious, and it's one of the best environments I've been around. I've known so many of our coaches and student-athletes, and seen their commitment to LSSU and our community. That made this a perfect fit for me."
Matt called many notable Laker moments over the past several seasons, serving as lead play-by-play broadcaster for LSSU men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and hockey road games. He was on the microphone as the Laker men's basketball team marched to the Elite Eight in 2025, as well as the Laker hockey team's 2021 WCHA Championship victory and NCAA Hockey Tournament appearance.
"I've always loved telling good stories," Matt said. This university's history is filled with great ones. It's been such a thrill to be the narrator for so many incredible chapters, and I'm beyond excited to continue doing that in my new role. The style will change, but the mission remains the same – capture and showcase the unique, amazing history and future of our campus and community."
"Matt's been a valued member of our team for years," said Laker hockey head coach Damon Whitten. "He's earned the trust of our staff and our student-athletes. We've appreciated his work on the air and can't wait to see what his energy, knowledge and eye for detail can do for our program as our Director of Athletic Communications."
Matt brings a long, championship-caliber resume from college and high school broadcasting, winning nine Michigan Association of Broadcasters awards from 2008 to 2013, including five first-place finishes in Sports Play-by-Play. During his two years as Sports Director at Oakland University's WXOU-FM Auburn Hills, he diligently worked on developing other young talent. In 2012, he debuted as the lead play-by-play voice of MIPrepZone's Oakland County high school sports broadcasts on WDFN-AM, while contributing to The Oakland Press. He then spent time at Central Michigan University as a Graduate Assistant in the Broadcast and Cinematic Arts program.
A 2008 graduate of Warren, MI's Paul K. Cousino High School, he debuted on the air in 2005 at WPHS-FM Warren/Sterling Heights, the student radio station at Warren Consolidated Schools, where he earned his first MAB championship in 2008. Matt graduated from Oakland University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Communication and a minor in Journalism. He currently resides in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
