Meet the 2019 Award Winners: Wisconsin Sportscaster Matt Lepay

Today’s award spotlight is on NSMA 2019 Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year, Matt Lepay. Lepay is the Voice of the University of Wisconsin's football and basketball, having done basketball since 1984 and football since 1988. The Ohio State University graduate has covered impressive moments with the Badgers such as Ron Dayne’s 1999 NCAA record-breaking run against Iowa, David Gilreath’s 2010 97-yard kick return against Ohio State, and Melvin Gordon’s touchdown run against Nebraska, giving him a 408 yard rushing day. He has also worked up to 50 Brewers games a year on television since 2014. Lepay also covered Wiscons’ Rose Bowl wins in the late 90s.

This will be Lepays tenth time winning Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year in affiliation with Badgers Sports Network/Learfield & FOX Sports Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.

Lepay briefly spoke with NSMA on his career and other thoughts regarding the industry.

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

Matt Lepay: Helped put together a student broadcast team for Ohio State University hockey and baseball. Hired by WNCI Radio in Columbus, where I did some news and sports anchoring. One of my first assignments was to cover the 1985 Rose Bowl between Ohio State and USC. Became a budget cut victim in the spring of 1986. Later joined WPTW Radio in Piqua, OH, where I played the "beautiful music of yesteryear," but more importantly called high school football and basketball, plus a little baseball. Moved to Madison, WI in 1988, where I started to call University of Wisconsin basketball and football. Did pbp for football in 1988(non-exclusive rights), then worked pregame, halftime, and postgame from 1989-93. When Learfield acquired the rights, I picked up pbp duties again in 1994. Have had both roles ever since. Started filling in for Brian Anderson on Brewers TV in 2014. In recent years, that has averaged between 55-60 games. This year is more like a couple dozen.

NSMA: What is your favorite thing about your job?

ML: Building relationships with players, coaches, administrators, and many other people who are vital to a program. The great moments are easy to talk about, but I have enjoyed getting to know so many of those folks who have made Wisconsin Athletics what it is today. Many have become good friends. On the TV side, I love the team concept of putting together a broadcast. There are many moving parts, and we all need to be on the same page--from the booth to the production truck, etc.

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

ML: Guess I will go back to moments---the 2015 NCAA Final Four game between Wisconsin and Kentucky. The Wildcats were 38-0, but many thought the Badgers could beat them. They did---my favorite moments from the game happened when Sam Dekker hit a step-back three to break a tie in the final two minutes, then he took a charge at the other end. Might have been the only charge he took in his college career.

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

ML: Be versatile. Develop listening and interview skills. Understand both the audio and video platforms and how they differ. Do not ignore your writing skills. Maybe more than anything--be a good teammate. If you are easy and fun to work with, that can buy you time to improve your skills. There are too many good, hard-working folks who want to get into this business. Being a jerk can lead to an early exit from any number of jobs.

Written by NSMA intern, Brian Cohen