SVG Campus Shot Callers: Patrick Cunningham, Director, Live Broadcast Production, Elon University

SVG Campus Shot Callers: Patrick Cunningham, Director, Live Broadcast Production, Elon UniversityThe Virginia Tech alum leads a super team of students at the burgeoning mid-majorBy Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Thursday, September 25, 2025 - 7:00 am

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The pool of production and operations talent in sports media runs much deeper than the national networks. SVG Campus Shot Callers spotlights the behind-the-scenes leaders powering the massive wave of college sports productions available to fans today. Across athletic departments nationwide, these administrators manage teams, oversee technology investment, mentor students, and ensure that hundreds of live broadcasts make it to air each year. This series highlights their journeys, philosophies, and the vital role they play in shaping live sports.

Elon University has carved out a reputation for hands-on student media, and its sports-broadcasting arm is no exception. On the North Carolina campus, Elon Sports Vision (ESV) not only produces more than 130 live broadcasts annually for FloSports but also powers videoboard shows for five football games and 30 basketball games - often running them in parallel despite having just one control room.

At the center of it all is Patrick Cunningham, director, live broadcast production, Elon University, who is now in his third year leading the program. An alum of Virginia Tech's HokieVision (where he was a student) and the University of Missouri's Broadcast Operations (where he was a grad assistant), he oversees a crew of 50-85 students each semester, guiding them through the challenges of balancing academics with professional-level production. In 2024, that mentorship and teamwork paid off in a big way: Elon Sports Vision earned its first SVG College Sports Media Award for Outstanding Live Game Production in the Collegiate Student - Championship Division.

Patrick Cunningham directs a women's basketball broadcast in January 2024. In the background is Britt Mobley, a student who was filling the role of technical director.

In this edition of SVG Campus Shot Callers, Cunningham shares his path from student worker to program leader, the philosophy that drives his team, the impact of new technology in the control room, and why confidence is the foundation of student success.

What are the key responsibilities of your current role?

My top priority is teaching and mentoring the students in Elon Sports Vision. At the end of the day, we're a learning environment, and my job is to prepare them for internships and careers in the industry once they graduate. That means running training sessions, holding broadcast reviews, and spending time outside of game days to get them ready not just for the next show but for their long-term future.

I also serve as lead producer for football and men's basketball, and I'll jump in on just about any other sport when needed. On top of that, I direct shows, fill in gaps, and manage a crew of 50-85 students alongside Coordinating Producer Annika Cronin. That includes handling our student-worker budget and serving as the main point of contact with outside groups like the Coastal Athletic Association, FloSports, and ESPN.

What is one core philosophy you try to live by when managing your team/operation?

I believe there's no reason we can't produce broadcasts at Elon that look every bit as good as what you'd see on an ACC or SEC Network show. Sure, those schools might have bigger control rooms or more equipment, but quality comes down to the crew, not the budget. If everyone buys into making each broadcast the best it can be, we can hold our own with anyone. That's the number-one message I share with my students every day.

Cunningham (holding trophy) celebrates winning an SVG College Sport Media Award with student crewmembers (front row, from left) Annie Thyfault and Ella Smith and (back row, frp, left) Anthony Bamford, Philip Doherty, Scott Katz, John Spitznagel, and Ben Ohlmeyer.

What is one key technology investment that your department has made that has greatly improved your productions, workflows, or how your team operates?

Our biggest upgrade was installing a new replay system. When I arrived in 2023, our Mira unit was at the end of its life. By 2024, during the fall crossover season - and while hosting the CAA Men's Soccer Tournament - we really felt that strain. In summer 2025, we installed our new DreamCatcher system, and it has already been a game-changer. It simplified control-room workflows and gave our students hands-on experience with the kind of replay tech they'll see in production trucks and control rooms across the country. It has boosted the quality of our shows immediately while also preparing students for the industry.

How did you get started in sports production? What made you want to pursue this career?

When I started at Virginia Tech, I thought I wanted to be a computer engineer. But, after taking an intro-to-communications class, I heard Jedd Castro from Athletics say they needed students to help launch the ACC Network. I filled out the application, listed I like sports under experience, and somehow got an interview. I told them I wasn't an expert, but I'd work as hard as needed and learn whatever they asked.

Cunningham (left) as a graduate student at the University of Missouri in February 2023 after directing a basketball videoboard show. With him is the technical director on that production, Ethan Levy, who is now coordinator. control room technology, Chicago Cubs.

They hired me the next day, and I started out coiling cables and logging replay clips. From there, I was hooked, and I worked my way up at Virginia Tech, then Missouri, and now full-time at Elon.

What is your favorite event you've ever worked?

I've been lucky to work some

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/09/25/svg-campus-shot-callers-patrick...
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