The first Jim Nantz Award winner now has his first full-time college play-by-play job. Adam Cavalier, who was named the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sportscaster by STAA in 2009, has been hired as Director of Athletic Communications at Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, TN.
In addition to broadcasting Eagles football, men’s basketball, and likely other sports, Cavalier will oversee sports information for all 16 of Carson Newman’s programs. He will also produce and manage multimedia content for cneagles.com.
“My vision for this position and for the future of Carson Newman athletics aligns in near lockstep with [Athletic Director] Allen Morgan’s,” says Cavalier. “We both believe Carson Newman has the opportunity to not only be one of the best, but THE best school in the south. We both want and expect excellence not only for the athletic department but for the university as a whole. That environment, and the character associated with the school, are driving factors. It doesn’t matter that Carson Newman is DII, we will be big time.”
A 2009 graduate of Marshall University, Cavalier has been the voice of Thundering Herd women’s basketball since 2010 and also served a variety of roles on Marshall’s football and men’s basketball broadcasts. He is also West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Charleston (WV) Bureau Chief.
The Carson Newman opportunity came about very quickly for Cavalier.
“Marshall play-by-play voice Steve Cotton told me that the position had come open Monday, June 25. My application was in Tuesday evening, I had a pleasant phone conversation with CN’s Athletic Director Allen Morgan on Thursday and then interviewed in person on the 4th of July. I’ll be cliché and say there were fireworks. This position was very much about whom I knew. The fact that Cotton was willing to go out of his way to help me get this gig two months away from the start of the football season speaks the world about him and what kind of person he is. I’ll be buying him dinner before I leave for Jefferson City.”
Cavalier has been an STAA client since 2009.
“STAA has helped me ramp up my game in terms of applying for jobs,” Cavalier says. “I honed cover letters, tapes and resumes I based on [STAA CEO] Jon Chelesnik’s advice and things I read on the site.
“It’s been three years since I won the Nantz. That hardware still gets mentioned when I’m introduced. I guess it is becoming/has become the Heisman trophy of sportscasting. To say that it’s not an icebreaker would be a bold-faced lie. In fact, when Allen Morgan introduced me to Carson-Newman’s president, the phrase, “Jim Nantz Award winner” came out of his mouth third after “this is Adam Cavalier,” and “we want to hire him.”
(Visit Adam’s STAA Talent Page).
3 Comments.
Congratulations to Adam!! Very well deserved!!
Congratulations to Adam!! Very well deserved!!
Congratulations to Adam!! Very well deserved!!