Endowment Established To Honor Longtime Employee Matt Maloney
January 26, 2026 | General
GREENVILLE, N.C. – ECU Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert announced today that the Pirate Club will establish an endowment in honor of longtime employee Matt Maloney. As part of the endowment, a postgraduate fellowship within the Pirate Club will be named in Maloney's honor.
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The Matt Maloney Postgraduate Fellowship will be a paid, yearlong position within the Pirate Club for college graduates. The fellowship is designed to provide unparalleled professional experience and prepare individuals for careers in sports administration by offering exposure to the inner workings of a collegiate athletics development department, along with opportunities to work across multiple areas of ECU Athletics.
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Individuals interested in supporting the fellowship may make a gift to the Matt Maloney Endowment here or by contacting the Pirate Club offices at 252-737-4540.
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Affectionally known as 'Big Guy," Maloney announced his retirement today after more than 36 years with ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club. In his current role as Assistant AD for Major Gifts, Maloney oversees major gifts and donor relationships across the entire Pirate Club membership.
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To read Maloney's letter to Pirate Nation, click here.
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"Matt Maloney leaves a legacy that will stand the test of time," Gilbert said. "His name is synonymous with the Pirate Club, and his passion and spirit for the Pirates are unmatched. Through all the changes in our industry over the past 36 years, there has been one constant: Big Guy. His impact on ECU Athletics is impossible to measure and reaches far beyond what many will ever know. He comes to work every day with a desire to serve our fans, coaches and student-athletes, and his level of consistency over the years has been truly remarkable. We are forever indebted to him for all that he has done and personally invested into our great university."
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"It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to work for ECU Athletics, the Pirate Club and everybody that makes up Pirate Nation," Maloney said. "I am so humbled by today's announcement of a postgraduate fellowship because I know how valuable that will be for the next generation. Thank you to ECU Athletics, the University, the community, Pirate Nation and all the individuals who have impacted me along the way. It is a great honor to be a Pirate for life."
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Maloney joined ECU Athletics in 1990 as marketing assistant before transitioning to the Pirate Club in 1994, where he has excelled in a variety of leadership roles and played an integral part in the organization's growth and success.
"There is no doubt that Big Guy is a giant in the fundraising industry and the ultimate role model for any person who wants to succeed in athletic development," Pirate Club Executive Director Ryan Robinson said. "He always shows up and is willing to help. I'm deeply grateful for his leadership, friendship, and unwavering loyalty. There is simply no one else like him. His impact on myself and our staff is hard to put into words. He likes to say certain individuals are great Pirates. Well, there is no greater Pirate than Matt Maloney."
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A former swimmer at South Carolina, Maloney obtained a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies in 1987. He later received a Master of Science in sport administration from Ohio University in 1991.
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The Matt Maloney Postgraduate Fellowship will be a paid, yearlong position within the Pirate Club for college graduates. The fellowship is designed to provide unparalleled professional experience and prepare individuals for careers in sports administration by offering exposure to the inner workings of a collegiate athletics development department, along with opportunities to work across multiple areas of ECU Athletics.
Â
Individuals interested in supporting the fellowship may make a gift to the Matt Maloney Endowment here or by contacting the Pirate Club offices at 252-737-4540.
Â
Affectionally known as 'Big Guy," Maloney announced his retirement today after more than 36 years with ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club. In his current role as Assistant AD for Major Gifts, Maloney oversees major gifts and donor relationships across the entire Pirate Club membership.
Â
To read Maloney's letter to Pirate Nation, click here.
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"Matt Maloney leaves a legacy that will stand the test of time," Gilbert said. "His name is synonymous with the Pirate Club, and his passion and spirit for the Pirates are unmatched. Through all the changes in our industry over the past 36 years, there has been one constant: Big Guy. His impact on ECU Athletics is impossible to measure and reaches far beyond what many will ever know. He comes to work every day with a desire to serve our fans, coaches and student-athletes, and his level of consistency over the years has been truly remarkable. We are forever indebted to him for all that he has done and personally invested into our great university."
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"It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to work for ECU Athletics, the Pirate Club and everybody that makes up Pirate Nation," Maloney said. "I am so humbled by today's announcement of a postgraduate fellowship because I know how valuable that will be for the next generation. Thank you to ECU Athletics, the University, the community, Pirate Nation and all the individuals who have impacted me along the way. It is a great honor to be a Pirate for life."
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Maloney joined ECU Athletics in 1990 as marketing assistant before transitioning to the Pirate Club in 1994, where he has excelled in a variety of leadership roles and played an integral part in the organization's growth and success.
"There is no doubt that Big Guy is a giant in the fundraising industry and the ultimate role model for any person who wants to succeed in athletic development," Pirate Club Executive Director Ryan Robinson said. "He always shows up and is willing to help. I'm deeply grateful for his leadership, friendship, and unwavering loyalty. There is simply no one else like him. His impact on myself and our staff is hard to put into words. He likes to say certain individuals are great Pirates. Well, there is no greater Pirate than Matt Maloney."
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A former swimmer at South Carolina, Maloney obtained a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies in 1987. He later received a Master of Science in sport administration from Ohio University in 1991.
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