Marygrove Sports Info Continues Growth, Adds Johnson

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DETROIT — Marygrove College sports information continued its growth Wednesday (May 6) with the addition of Warren De La Salle student broadcaster, Brendan Johnson. The soon-to-be De La Salle graduate will join Jeremy Otto, a fellow Catholic League broadcaster and current Marygrove sophomore, as a member of the Mustangs sports information team for the upcoming 2015-16 academic year.

The announcement of Johnson’s addition to the sports information team was the latest in a long line of moves to grow the department by Tim Johnston, Marygrove’s assistant athletic director for communications and events management. Two years ago, Johnston began actively recruiting talented high school broadcasters to grow Marygrove’s in-game presence and improve the College’s communications footprint. The unique idea started with Jeremy Otto, a 2013 University of Detroit Jesuit graduate, and continued Wednesday with Johnson’s commitment.

 “I had a vision for Marygrove sports information and that vision could not be completed alone,” said Johnston. “Actively recruiting high school sports information enthusiasts is certainly an outside-of-the-box move, but it has proven to be a highly successful practice over the past few years. I cannot place a value on the outstanding work Jeremy [Otto] has done for us over the past few years, from helping form the Mustang Sports Network to calling every game since his arrival in the summer of 2013. Only a college sophomore, Jeremy plays a vital role in our day-to-day operations within the department and Brendan [Johnson] will be every bit as important to our growth as we move forward.

Brendan is an immensely talented, goals-oriented young man,” continued Johnston. “He fits our mold and will be able to step in right away to enhance our communications presence for the current and prospective student-athletes of Marygrove College. Above all else, Brendan will be getting a first-class education in a private institution setting close to home.”

A proven leader, Johnson co-founded De La Salle’s “Pilot Sports Network” as a sophomore and went on to call over 200 games during his three-year high school broadcasting career. Over the three-year period, Johnson has called a Lansing Lugnuts (MiLB) game, as well as contests in Comerica Park and Ford Field. This year, Johnson had the opportunity to call De La Salle’s MHSAA Division 2 Football State Championship.

Much like Otto in 2013, Johnson will enter the four-year, private institution as a seasoned veteran with experience covering baseball, football, soccer, softball and his favorite sport to call, basketball. Johnson was also a contributor and staff writer for the “The Co-Pilot”, a student newspaper production at De La Salle.

“I know we are getting another talented young mind because Brendan and Jeremy’s paths to Marygrove are very similar,” Johnston added. “Brendan has a great passion for the art of broadcasting, giving our department another boost as we continue to provide a first-class experience for Mustang student-athletes. With talented students like Brendan and Jeremy at the helm, it is hard to not get excited about the future of the Mustang Sports Network and Marygrove athletics as a whole. I look forward to a fun four years working alongside Brendan.”

Johnson (and Otto) is a product of the Student Broadcast Foundation, a growing Michigan-based sports information mentoring program led by Thom Lengyel and Ken Kolb among many other local professionals. Kolb assists hands-on with current Marygrove game day productions while Lengyel serves as a consultant for the ever-growing sports information arm at the College.

Johnson intends on majoring in business/business administration at Marygrove.

ABOUT MARYGROVE SPORTS INFORMATION & BROADCASTS
This year (2014-15 athletics season), the Mustang Sports Network/Marygrove sports information department conducted live video streams for home games while calling select road contests via live audio, led by Jeremy Otto and Jimmy Stewart. The Mustang Sports Network also produced over 40 highlights and call of the game packages, and added game day video previews to the fold during the basketball season. In addition, the sports information department released weekly game notes, game previews and more to highlight the outstanding work of all Mustang student-athletes on-and-off the playing field.