Before Joe Davis even came to Beloit, he knew he wanted to pursue a broadcasting career.

From broadcasting basketball games and hosting his own sports show on BATV, Davis took advantage of all the opportunities Beloit had to offer. He also launched a video production business at CELEB, wrote for The Roundtable’s sports column, played football, and interned with Janesville’s ESPN 1380 and the Schaumberg Flyers Baseball Club.

“Right from the start people were there to help,” Davis says of his Beloit mentors who included sports information director Terry Owens, director of Beloit Cable Access Television Dave Knutson, director of entrepreneurship Jerry Gustafson, head football coach Chris Brann, and associate professor of theatre arts Amy Sarno. 

“They did whatever they could to make sure I had opportunities, and it helped me get to a good start as soon as I graduated,” he says.

A four-year letterwinner as a quarterback and wide receiver for the Buccaneer Football team, broadcasting was always at the forefront in Davis’ mind.  While at Beloit College, MWCTV came into being for the Conference, broadcasting Football and Basketball games over the internet.  Once Football season was over Davis jumped at the opportunity with both feet, turning Buccaneer home basketball games into large productions with two and three cameras.  At the end of the season he was asked to be the play-by-play announcer, with partner Zach Poelker, for the Midwest Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.  Then d3hoops, a website devoted to NCAA Division III Basketball, asked him to call a few games for their internet broadcasts.  And he was on his way.

Even before graduation, and at the age of 22, he was named the broadcaster for the Montgomery (Ala.) Biscuits.  At the time he was the youngest play-by-play man in Double-A Baseball.  Through his three years in Montgomery, Davis spent his off-seasons calling football and basketball for ESPN and Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) while also assisting with play-by-play for Auburn, UAB and Troy athletics.  At the end of what would be his final season with Montgomery he was named the Southern League’s Broadcaster of the Year.

“Joe is a true professional,” said Biscuits General Manager Marla Terranova. “He has made the Biscuits’ broadcasts first class and enjoyable for all the fans who tune in.”

The end to the Biscuits season in 2012 also brought an end to Davis’ career in Montgomery. ESPN signed Davis to a full-time contract to call college football, basketball and baseball. He can be seen on one of the ESPN networks, mostly ESPNU, on Thursday and Saturdays.

“ESPN is a dream come true,” Davis says. “I’m always looking forward to bigger and better games, but right now I’m focusing on continuing to improve my craft and to set myself up to take better assignments down the road.”