(April 18, 2013) Chris Lewis is one of the rare and fortunate college seniors with a job awaiting him upon graduation. A Syracuse senior and STAA client, Lewis is the new Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Idaho Falls Chukars.
The Chukars are the Class-A short season affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
“I’ve been looking a short season league that would allow me to get started after I graduate,” says Lewis. Lewis graduates in mid-May and starts with the Chukars 10 days later.
A 2012 STAA All-American and candidate for the 2013 Jim Nantz Award as the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sportscaster, Lewis already has considerable baseball broadcasting experience. In 2011, he was the voice of the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League. He spent last summer as a broadcasting and media relations intern for the Atlantic League’s Camden Riversharks.
Lewis’ new gig in Idaho is the second domino in a set of three late off-season openings for which minor league teams have asked STAA for assistance. (The hiring process for the third team is still in progress.) The chain reaction started when the Springfield Cardinals hired Andrew Buchbinder from the Hickory Crawdads. When the Crawdads hired STAA client Aaron Cox from Idaho Falls, the Chukars also sought STAA’s assistance and hired Lewis, who has been an STAA client since May 2012.
“I went to the One Day Ticket to Sportscasting Success seminar last year,” says Lewis. “That helped me make a connection that was willing to make a call to the [Chukars] on my behalf. Apparently, that phone call was a huge plus. I also used cover letter and follow up suggestions from [STAA CEO] Jon Chelesnik. It seems to have made a difference.”
It’s the second job Lewis has accepted since joining STAA. Last summer, he broadcast games for the Global Basketball Summer League in Las Vegas. This summer, Lewis is heading west again – this time to Idaho.
“It’s largely thanks to [STAA],” says Lewis. “I used a lot of the tools and tricks you told me. So, thank you big time.
“I’m thrilled to be getting baseball broadcasting experience right after college,” says Lewis. “I gather that there are limited positions with affiliated clubs, so I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity. I just want to make the Idaho Falls organization proud they selected me.”
(Visit Chris’ STAA Talent Page).