Meet the 2019 Award Winners: New Hampshire Sportscaster Justin McIsaac

Today’s award spotlight is on NSMA 2019 New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year, Justin McIsaac. McIsaac is a sportscaster for a variety of programs including a Producer and co-host for iHeartMedia Morning Show for three years, a color commentator for UNH Wildcat Football for four years, and Play-by-Play for Dartmouth, Southern New Hampshire University, St. Anselm College.

This would be McIsaac's second time winning New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year in a row, both in affiliation with his work with Wildcat Sports Properties/Learfield IMG College.

O’Halloran briefly spoke with NSMA on his career and other thoughts regarding the industry.

NSMA: What was your career path like on your way to your current position?

Justin McIsaac: My play by play work started doing High School hoops for a low watt AM station, as I got better it expanded to all HS sports at a bigger AM, then a few fill in gigs with St. Anselm, then regular free-lance work around NH. After being laid off from one radio station, I started my own online sports radio station called MOSN (McIsaac On Sports Network) to keep working in between gigs.

NSMA: What is your favorite thing about your job?

JM: Morning show - being able to talk about the latest news, and, in NH, being in the middle of the First In The Nation Primary. This has given me the chance to meet the current and former president, and appear on the BBC as an "NH Political Expert". With play by play, getting the chance to travel around the country with UNH Football is my favorite thing, but meeting and getting to know all sorts of players and coaches, and other broadcasters are great. I like life on the road. The games are good too.

NSMA: What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

JM: Traveling to Colorado with UNH football and getting a tour of the facilities by the Colorado head coach, including witnessing the Ralphie Run rehearsal up close.

Also, interviewing now President Biden, and introducing my daughter to him.

NSMA: What is the best piece of advice you have for people pursuing a career in sports media?

JM: Being told, by various people, not to judge where your career progression is compared to your peers. Also, to be who you are on air, if you're having fun, odds are the audience is having fun.