Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Major: Sport Marketing & Management; Business Minor
Years at IU: 2008 – 2012
What he did at IU: I immediately got involved in as much as I could. The BTN Student U program was just getting started and allowed for me to call a dozen women’s basketball games, several men’s games, and host two years of Hoosier Hysteria. I announced soccer games for BTN and IUHoosiers.com. I hosted a weekly sports talk show on the studio station (WIUX) and also called many football and basketball games each season. The highlight for me was being asked by Don Fischer to fill in Joe Smith as the pre-game and halftime host on the IU Radio Network for IU football against Akron.
For my first two years, I also learned the other side by interning in the media relations department. Then, in the spring of my sophomore year, I decided to branch out on my own and launch VigilantSports.com to write about teams and all of the sporting events I attended. I was in a fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi. And I continued in my role as a ball boy for all Indiana Pacers home games, in charge of the visitor’s locker room. … And 10 years there helped me land my first job out of college: covering the team for Pacers.com.
What he does now: I’m a reporter covering the Pacers on my own platforms, FieldhouseFiles.com and Fieldhouse Files podcast. Before that, I worked at The Athletic writing about the team. I also serve as the play-by-play announcer for dozens of games in the area, including IUPUI soccer and basketball on ESPN+.
What advice he has for sports media students: Be a self-starter, versatile and establish yourself on a variety of platforms. There’s no barrier to entry so start producing and sharing your work on social media, launch a website or newsletter, and create content to both get reps and determine where you’re best. Be an intern for several media outlets. Soak up all you can, push yourself and treat it like a job interview because you never know who is watching. They can be your biggest advocate when applying for jobs and relationships are incredibly valuable in all aspects of life. Everyone’s path is unique and be prepared to make sacrifices — with finances, time and your social life.
Be well-rounded personally and professionally. Become a good writer and communicator; that will serve you well. And start building your professional network. Follow writers and broadcasters on Twitter, interact with them and don’t be afraid to reach out. We’ve all been there. And lastly, it’s just sports. Don’t ever take experiences for granted and always remember to have fun.