(September 2, 2011) Southern California native JW Cox is going to have to get used to Minnesota winters. An STAA client, Cox is joining Leighton Broadcasting as play-by-play voice for St. Cloud State University (NCAA Division II) football and basketball.
In addition to Huskies athletics, Cox will broadcast a variety of high school play-by-play. Leighton Broacasting’s KNSI 1450 AM is the radio home for well over 100 games with SCSU and area high schools.
“The job is going to expand what I can do,” Cox says. “I always tell people I can broadcast just about anything but this is really going to let me sink my teeth into some football and add it to my tape and resume.”
A native of Southern California, Cox has become quite familiar with the state of Minnesota. He has spent each of the past two summers broadcasting baseball for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the summer collegiate Northwoods League.
Cox was first tipped-off to the possibility of the St. Cloud State job by an alumnus of the university. After he saw the job officially posted on the STAA website, Cox emailed his cover letter and the link to his STAA Talent Page. After Cox was invited to interview for the position, STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik did a mock interview with him to help Cox prepare.
“The mock interview was great,” Cox says. “It definitely put me at ease going in. I didn’t know what to expect necessarily. I knew having the mock interview would prepare me for what the traditional interview would be like.”
As for staying in Minnesota for the winter, Cox is prepared.
“I’ve always ended up back [in Southern California] after my summers up here,” Cox smiles. “I have some friends up here who have given me a checklist of things I need to do and items I’ll need for the winter. Until I go through it, though, I don’t know what to expect. People tell me it’s a whole different kind of cold up here.”
Cox understands the cold winter is part of the price he must pay to advance his career.
“This job is a big step for me towards making myself a much better, more versatile, broadcaster.”
(Visit JW’s STAA Talent Page).