What’s New at KSCU: Looking into the Future of Santa Clara University’s Sports Broadcasting

Former sports director Thomas Dunn (left) calling a Men’s Basketball game at a tournament in Las Vegas alongside current sports director Nick Pecora (right) in December of 2023.

KSCU Sports, the sports broadcasting division of Santa Clara University's radio station, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. From a small, struggling program post-pandemic to a thriving operation with increased funding and participation, KSCU Sports is quickly becoming a cornerstone of the university's media landscape.

"When I first joined, the sports side was very small,” stated Nick Pecora ’25, current sports director, as he recalled the program's humble beginnings when he joined in his sophomore year. “It was really just kind of getting back to its sort of pre-COVID levels, not that it was all the way back yet."In fact, the program was actively seeking new members, with little to no barriers to entry.

Fast forward to today, and the picture is dramatically different. KSCU Sports now boasts a core group of eight to 10 regular broadcasters, with interest from new members skyrocketing. 

“I had our coordinating director, Joey, put a KSCU Sports interest form in the week three or four KSCU newsletter. And I was thinking… if we could get five or six people that would really get us to a good place,” Pecora said. “I think I had like, 15 people fill the form out.”

A driving force was Thomas Dunn ’24, who picked up the pieces and built it back to what it once was. 

“We didn't know what the relationship with the athletic department was,” Dunn said. “We didn't know if the equipment worked. There was a lot of unknowns about pretty much everything.”

It took time for the team to build a rapport with the University’s athletics department, the West Coast Conference which the University’s teams are apart of, and broadcast networks that cover collegiate games, NCAA for example. But after a year of professionalism and enthusiasm, the program was back on its feet and gained a good reputation and relationship with the athletic department, athletes and broadcasts, Dunn claims. 

Expanded Coverage and New Opportunities

This surge in participation has opened doors for KSCU Sports to expand its coverage and explore new media formats. Pecora is particularly excited about the potential for podcasts and social media content, areas that were previously out of reach due to limited personnel.

One of the most significant developments for KSCU Sports has been a $10,000 increase in its budget—a dramatic increase from the previous budget of $1,500. According to Dunn, the McLaughlin family donated $5,000 with the University matching their gift. These funds are earmarked for travel and related expenses. This influx of funds allows for more comprehensive coverage of away games and tournaments, breaking down financial barriers that previously limited student participation.

Sam Canales ’26, who will be taking over as Sports Director next year, emphasizes the importance of this budget increase: “It is a privilege in my opinion to have the budget we do this year, as all of it has been provided by KSCU grads who wanted to donate to the program,” outside of the base $1,500 budget.

Looking to the Future

Thomas Dunn (right) embracing his Bronco spirit while commentating a SCU Men’s Basketball with Sam Canales (left).

Both Pecora and Canales have ambitious plans for the future of KSCU Sports. Pecora is keen on adding volleyball to their coverage roster, which would help balance the representation of men's and women's sports in their broadcasts.

Canales has two main goals: “The first is setting us up for the future, which means bringing in new people to take over the program once I am gone. The second thing is growing the number of people we have commentating on a consistent basis.”

The passion driving these student broadcasters is palpable. "To sum it into one statement: Love for the game,” Canales said. “To me, the feeling I would get while commentating the game and then after walking out of the stadium with my media pass on feeling like I had just done something really cool was a feeling that I had never gotten from anything else previous to this.”

With increased funding, growing interest from students and ambitious plans for the future, KSCU Sports is poised to become a significant player in college sports broadcasting. As they continue to expand their coverage and develop new talent, Pecora is confident that the program is not just providing a valuable service to the university community but also nurturing the next generation of sports broadcasters.