When Brady McAtamney hired on as sports coordinator at the Macomb Daily 18 months ago, he embraced the role with gusto.

The role involved not just writing his own stories about high school sports, but also coordinating coverage with freelance writers, said his supervisor, Matthew Mowery, regional sports editor for MediaNews Group, which owns the Macomb newspaper.

He took over for George Pohly, who retired after more than 30 years in the role. Coaches across the county knew and liked Pohly, Mowery said.

“He was stepping into some big shoes. He took it on cheerfully,” Mowery said of McAtamney. In a short time, McAtamney gained his own respect from coaches and a following among readers.

McAtamney, 28, of Shelby Township, died in his sleep on Monday, June 23.

Mowery remembered McAtamney’s towering presence coupled with a humble and giving spirit.

“He was 6 feet 4 or 6 feet 5. He was big like a bear. He was a very gentle soul. He was just a nice kid,” Mowery said.

McAtamney loved sports from a young age, according to an obituary posted on the A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors website.

He grew up in Troy, where he played on baseballs teams with his dad, Eugene, coaching him. Eugene died when he was 10. McAtamney and his mom, Mary, and younger brother, Shane, kept Eugene’s memory alive by enjoying an annual trip to an out-of-town Tigers game.

McAtamney graduated from Troy High School and Grand Valley State University, where he worked on the campus newspaper, The Lanthorn.

His first job after college was with Main Street Media of Tennessee; he worked there for almost five years.

“While Brady was a sportswriter, his pieces were always about more than just the game. He had a knack for telling the story — the human story — beyond the stats. His love of people. His love of sports. His love of words,” said his obituary on the funeral home website.

He took pride in taking an award in sports reporting in a recent competition through the Society of Professional Journalists-Detroit Chapter.

He was born Brayden James McAtamney on April 8, 1997. In addition to his mom and brother, he is survived by his girlfriend, Jessica McKee; stepfather, Darryl Scott; stepsisters Sophie and Olivia Scott; and grandparents Les and Cheryl Scott.

“Brady came upon the woman who did exactly what he yearned for: saw him for his inner light, drawn in by all of his beauty. For eight months, Brady got to know and deeply love the woman he believed was the love of his life, Jessica McKee. Brady and Jess ‘fit,’ adoring and celebrating each other’s quirky, lovely uniqueness and lifting each other to levels of joy and belonging that was the stuff of soulmates,” the funeral home obituary said.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday, June 27, and 10 a.m. Saturday, June 28, until the funeral at 1 p.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons, Price Chapel, 3725 Rochester Road in Troy.

The family encourages guests to wear clothing to the visitation and funeral that celebrate their favorite sports teams.

The family suggests memorials to the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, 25200 Telegraph Road., Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48033 (https://epilepsymichigan.org) or Frontlines Detroit, 4574 Hereford St., Detroit, MI 48224.