Mike Mahoney named PSWA Good Guy Award winner
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association (PSWA) has selected longtime Philadelphia sports communications professional Mike Mahoney as the recipient of its Good Guy Award, recognizing his outstanding cooperation with the media and his more than two decades of service to the Philadelphia sports community.
He will be honored at the 122nd Annual PSWA Awards Banquet, which will be held on Monday, January 11, 2027, at The Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mahoney, who recently joined the Atlantic 10 Conference as Senior Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications and Media Relations, spent more than 20 years as the Director of Athletic Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. During his tenure at Penn, Mahoney worked with nearly every one of the department’s 33 varsity sports and became particularly well known for his work with the Quakers’ men’s basketball program, which calls The Palestra home.
The PSWA Good Guy Award is presented to an individual who demonstrates exceptional cooperation and professionalism in working with members of the media. Mahoney joins a distinguished list of past recipients that includes Philadelphia sports figures such as Tyrese Maxey, Sean Couturier, Scott Laughton, Jay Wright, Fran Dunphy, T.J. McConnell, Phil Martelli and many others.
“Mike Mahoney is a very worthy recipient of the PSWA’s Good Guy Award,” said Mike Shute, PSWA President. “Especially in this special year that we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Palestra. For more than two decades, Mike has been a trusted, professional and generous resource for members of the Philadelphia sports media. He understands the importance of helping reporters and broadcast professionals do their jobs while always putting the student-athletes, coaches and programs he represents first. He is respected throughout the Philadelphia sports community, and we are thrilled to recognize him.”
His contributions to the profession have earned numerous honors. In 2026, Mahoney received the prestigious Arch Ward Award from College Sports Communicators for outstanding contributions to college athletics communications. He also received the organization’s President’s Award in 2025 and is an 18-time winner of the Fred Stabley Writing Contest, including four stories recognized as the best in the nation.
Mahoney also has been recognized regionally, receiving the 2017 Irving T. Marsh Award for excellence in sports information and serving as president of the Philadelphia Sports Information Directors organization.
Now with the Atlantic 10 Conference, Mahoney is responsible for strategic communications initiatives across the conference’s 23 sports, with an emphasis on basketball, while leading the league’s overall communications efforts.
The 2027 PSWA Awards Banquet will hold special significance as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of The Palestra, one of the most historic venues in college basketball.
The evening will bring together members of the Philadelphia sports community to celebrate outstanding athletes, coaches, administrators and members of the media while recognizing the achievements and contributions that continue to make the region one of the nation’s premier sports communities.
Additional honorees and details regarding the 122nd Annual PSWA Awards Banquet will be announced in the coming weeks. Among those already announced include Philadelphia Flyers broadcaster Jason Myrtetus (Most Courageous) and Dick “Hoops” Weiss (Stan Hochman Journalism Award).
For more information about the banquet and tickets, please click here or simply visit www.phillysportswriters.com.
About the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association
The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected organizations dedicated to recognizing excellence in sports and sports journalism. Through its annual awards banquet and other initiatives, the PSWA honors the athletes, coaches, administrators and media members who have made significant contributions to the world of sports. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the PSWA sponsors a variety of events to raise funds to provide scholarships for deserving college students and donates to a variety of other charities both in the Philadelphia region and nationally.