Students Land Sports Broadcasting Jobs Despite Pandemic
COVID-19 has resulted in quite the non-traditional summer for sports fans. However, some of our very own Bulldogs have landed roles working as sports broadcasters with summer baseball leagues throughout the country.
Recent grad Oliver Nissi ’20 has landed a lead play-by-play announcing job with the Rockville Express, a baseball team that is part of the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League (MCBL). Oliver told us, “As a Sport Management major at Dean, I approached the Communications department faculty and students at the beginning of my junior year with the goal of getting involved with sports broadcasting. I fell in love with sports broadcasting my first time on-air, and the Dean community has propelled me to pursue my broadcasting dreams ever since.”
Despite limited job availability due to the global pandemic, Brendan Howe ’21 and Alex Feuz ’22 were able to find positions working with summer baseball leagues, Brendan in Louisiana with the Acadiana Cane Cutters and Alex in New York with the Albany Dutchmen. Both Bulldogs are gaining hands-on experience this summer that will benefit them in their future careers.
Brendan told us more about his role this summer: “I'm the play-by-play voice of the Acadiana Cane Cutters on TCL TV (a pay-per-view subscription) calling 30 games in the Texas Collegiate League. In addition to calling the games, I'm also a full-time intern when the team is at home. We just completed our first road trip of the summer to San Antonio where we got to play in the AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers' Wolff Stadium. It was the first time I had the chance to call a game in a professional stadium, so I was ecstatic.”
When asked how Dean has prepared him for his workload, Brendan noted, “I've learned the art of play-by-play from John Rooke (Director of the Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management at Dean College), gaining tips and tricks by listening to the experiences he's had throughout his career. Most people don't realize the profession involves long hours before, during and after the game. It takes countless hours of preparation to gather stats and stories to use during the game, and after the game more hours are spent posting highlights to social media. It's a heavy workload and a time-consuming job, but one I wouldn't trade for any 9-5 job.”
Brockton Rox, a summer baseball team, is home to two of Dean’s own this summer, Justin Miller ’20 and Austin DeCouta ’23. Austin spoke to us about his role with the team: “This summer I am the lead broadcaster for the Brockton Rox baseball team. Dean has helped me get comfortable with being on camera, learn about the sports broadcasting business and practice commentating.”
Even soon-to-be Bulldogs have landed jobs in the industry. Brett Chaves ˈ24 will be working for the Newport Collegiate Baseball League this summer. Brett found his niche for sports broadcasting after attending Dean’s Sports Broadcasting Pre-College summer program.
With social distancing implemented in stadiums across the country and many games being played without fans, the role of a sports broadcaster is essential to keep fans updated and engaged with their teams. Congratulations on securing these positions, Bulldogs!
Are you interested in a career in sports broadcasting? Dean College’s Sports Broadcasting program will prepare you to work in some of today’s most high-powered entertainment careers and provide you with the experience and knowledge you need to succeed in the industry.