Old friend and colleague Malcolm Moran is returning to Big Ten country. And just in time with Hoosiers hoops becoming relevant again.

From the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana:

New National Sports Journalism Center director Malcolm Moran brings 30 years of sports journalism experience to his new post, which he assumes in January, the Indiana University School of Journalism announced today.

As director, Moran will oversee programming for the Indianapolis-based center, which serves as a comprehensive institute for the study of sports journalism. The School of Journalism launched the center in 2009.

“It will be an honor to direct the National Sports Journalism Center and build upon all the good work that has been done since its launch,” said Moran. “All journalists are products of their experiences, and the core of our mission will be to connect students to the most rewarding challenges we can find.”

As a sportswriter, Moran worked for USA Today, Newsday, The New York Times and Chicago Tribune. In 2006, he was named the inaugural Knight Chair in Sports Journalism and Society in the College of Communications at Pennsylvania State University. Moran also serves as director of the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism within the College.

Moran was honored with the Curt Gowdy Print Media Award in 2007 from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for outstanding lifetime coverage of basketball.

In his sportswriting career, Moran covered 26 bowl games, 26 men’s NCAA Final Fours, 16 World Series, 11 Super Bowls and two Olympic Games.

“Malcolm brings an impressive array of experiences to the position,” said School of Journalism Interim Dean Michael Evans. “His background as a highly respected journalist and as a successful leader in an academic setting, coupled with his outstanding skills and talents, make him an excellent choice to lead the National Sports Journalism Center to new levels of national prominence.”

Moran also will hold the Louis A. Weil Jr. Endowed Chair at the School of Journalism and will be involved in the curriculum, which includes the nation’s first master’s degree in sports journalism.

Moran has taught a variety of sports journalism courses at Penn State. He also used his professional experiences to provide students with opportunities to cover premiere national and international sporting events.

“In the past year, the opportunity to direct Penn State students and recent graduates at the BCS Championship Game, NCAA men’s Final Four basketball tournament and London Olympic Games has produced some of the most memorable moments of my career,” said Moran. “The relationships already in place at the NSJC, and others that we will develop, will help create more of those experiences.”