Choosiness pays off for Ivery in sports director job at KJAM

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Drew Ivery didn’t know what the future held when he left his sportscasting job in August 2022. He wanted to stay in sports but decided to be choosy about his next opportunity. Ivery bought himself time by working as the media director for a local country club. Now, he’s found the right next step in his sportscasting journey. Ivery is the new sports director at KJAM Radio in Madison, SD.

“[KJAM] will provide me with valuable experience,” Ivery enthuses. “I missed radio and was looking to take the next step and broadcast regularly in the collegiate ranks. This position provided that. It has a very friendly staff that has been great in the interview process and in helping find housing in the area. I believe we can all help each other for the better.”

Good fit

Ivery will broadcast Dakota State University (NAIA) football and basketball, high school sports and amateur baseball play-play. He will also host a weekly, hour-long sports talk show during college sports season, and a daily air shift.

Ironically, Ivery follows fellow STAA member Caleb Gill at KJAM.

“I learned about this opportunity through the STAA website where I’ve been primarily been looking for jobs and to get better at my craft,” Ivery states. He adds, “STAA’s tools were motivation to go harder in my pursuit. It’s the best place for sports broadcasting opportunities.

Experience, patience

Ivery is a 2020 graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce. He has extensive sports writing experience for platforms like Winsidr, FanSided and HighPostHoops. Ivery is also the former sports director for East Texas Broadcasting in Sulphur Springs, TX., and has considerable podcasting experience.

Patience served Ivery well in his sportscasting job search. “Just trusting the process, to not settle for anything less than the type of job I wanted and working consistently to pursue that,” he recalls. “A lot of jobs from all over came through, but I only applied for the things I was looking for and not just everything that popped up. The job search process is never fun, but I stuck with it and had great support along the way.”

Now, Ivery’s fortitude during his 11 months away from sportscasting is being rewarded. “I had my mind made up that broadcasting is what I wanted to do. And though KJAM is a change of scenery for me, I believe it will be a great opportunity in a new environment.”

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