Mountaineer sports fans will have a special treat at the West Virginia Book Festival. John Antonik, longtime WVU Athletic Department official, will talk about his new book, “Roll Out the Carpet: 101 Seasons of West Virginia University Basketball,” at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Charleston Civic Center.
Published by WVU Press, “Roll out the Carpet” overflows with accounts of nail-biting tension leading to buzzer-beating shots, thrilling game-saving moments, and rich, intimate details of the superstar players and coaches that built an institution of gold and blue. With unparalleled insider access, Antonik details the vibrant history of the players, coaches and fans that created the finest moments of Mountaineer basketball.
A native of New Martinsville, Antonik earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in sport management from West Virginia University. He is also the author of “West Virginia University Football Vault: The History of the Mountaineers.”
Antonik joined the WVU athletic staff in 1991, serving as associate sports information director and directing the community relations program. In 1999, he assumed his current role as director of new media. He is responsible for all facets of the department’s web services program, including editorial oversight, content development and site design. Antonik is sponsored by WVU Press.
In addition to Antonik, the West Virginia Book Festival line-up includes, among others: New York Times best-selling authors Nicholas Sparks and Diana Gabaldon; Civil War historian James Robertson; children’s author Carmen Deedy; and E. Lockhart, author of books for teens.
The West Virginia Book Festival, scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17, is an annual, two-day event celebrating books and reading presented by The Library Foundation of Kanawha County Inc., Kanawha County Public Library, the West Virginia Humanities Council, The Charleston Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail. For more information, visit http://www.wvbookfestival.org.
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