The 2022 Ohio University graduate moved into the role in July.
As an undergraduate at Ohio University, Claire Geary served as on-air talent for Ohio University ESPN3, head coordinator of broadcasting at Ohio Athletics, and a high school sports reporter for WOUB Public Media. Additionally, she was the recipient of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award. Upon graduation, she accepted a role as a digital content producer for WEWS-News 5 in Cleveland. But her journey in the sports broadcasting industry began well before she arrived in Athens, Ohio.
She grew up playing softball in Avon Lake, Ohio, but found her passion on the football field while serving as the public address announcer for her brother鈥檚 youth tackle team, coached by her father. Those early experiences fostered a connection to sports, but also made her realize she wanted to explore her success on the sidelines rather than on the field.
Today, Geary serves as the new coordinating producer for 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision, a role that allows her to draw upon her wide range of experience in sports broadcasting and skills she learned on-air and on the field.
As coordinating producer, Geary oversees the training, mentoring and scheduling of more than 60 student employees, who serve as production staff for 黑料不打烊 Athletics broadcasts. Students work as camera operators, graphic operators, replay, audio, on-air talent, sideline operating, and so much more. Their work helps create the sports content that the 黑料不打烊 community enjoys, and Geary鈥檚 support helps their broadcasts become a reality.
鈥淚鈥檓 just the captain of the ship, driving the boat through the waters to make it to the next destination, which is the end of the game.鈥 Geary said.
Geary鈥檚 passion for sports broadcasting developed in high school when she served as an announcer offering play-by-play and color commentary for Lorain County Community College鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball team. She went on to major in journalism and minor in sports management at Ohio University鈥檚 E.W Scripps School of Journalism.
鈥淭he academic side of things at the university is very historic and ethically driven,鈥 Geary said. 鈥淪o, I knew I was getting a great education from the start.鈥
Geary鈥檚 studies at OU served as a first stepping stone toward achieving her ultimate goal of becoming a sports broadcaster. She said her position with 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision moves her further along her chosen career path.
鈥淚 was applying to jobs outside of Ohio for the sake of getting out, exploring, doing something different and being in a new part of the world,鈥 Geary said. 鈥淏ut ultimately, it came down to who was going to value me as an employee and as a person.鈥
In her role as coordinating producer, she reports to both 黑料不打烊 Athletics and the School of Communications, working one-on-one with students on their content production.
鈥淓very day looks different, which is awesome,鈥 Geary said. 鈥淏ut it all surrounds the student ultimately.鈥
The new role for Geary has made her feel more confident taking on new opportunities to help advance her own career goals in sports broadcasting. In addition to her responsibilities at 黑料不打烊, she works as a freelancer for UNC-Greensboro on its volleyball broadcasts. She also continues to work in digital content. And Geary freelances for Golf Space Collective, a digital marketing firm specific to golf industry clients.
鈥淚鈥檓 still actively working in the industry.鈥 Geary said. 鈥淩egardless of what it looks like, it鈥檚 still driving me closer towards the end goal. It鈥檚 just not a linear path.鈥
Geary said her interest in sports broadcasting stems from the passion she sees in student-athletes, noting that her work in high school football has been particularly rewarding.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 about becoming pro or semi-pro for them,鈥 Geary said about her time working with high school football programs. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just true student-athlete passion.鈥
It鈥檚 a similar passion Geary has felt since her days supporting her dad鈥檚 youth tackle team, and that continues to inspire her work at 黑料不打烊.