If you’re a fan of the NFL, MLB, or college basketball, you’ve likely heard the voice of Valpo alum Adam Amin ‘09 on your television as the play-by-play announcer on FOX Sports. Local audiences will also recognize Adam as the primary television voice of the Chicago Bulls on the Chicago Sports Network. What you may not know is that Amin got his start right here on campus at Valpo’s radio station, WVUR.
Adam wasn’t necessarily sure that he wanted to study broadcasting in college, but a friend and mentor from his hometown who was attending Valpo encouraged him to explore the career path if he had any interest. He says, “After talking to my friend, I applied to Valpo, got in, and showed up for FOCUS the following summer. I was a Valpo student from then on, and I was hooked from pretty much the first day, when I visited the radio station.” From that day on, Amin says he spent most of his time at Valpo in Schnabel Hall at the WVUR studio. “I spent a lot of nights in the production room at WVUR and learned a lot. Whether I was working on stuff for the radio station or listening back to things, a lot of my non-curriculum education took place in that room and in that station.”
After earning his degree in television and broadcasting, Adam got his first full-time radio station job in Iowa, which he says was scary, but something he felt well-prepared for due to his time spent at Valpo. He says, “Most of my career can be summed up that way. These are scary things to do, but I’ve always felt fairly well-prepared because of the educational foundation I have.” He adds, “I was able to move up in my career fairly quickly because I was taught the skills to be able to evaluate and listen to myself and be critical.”
At just 24 years old, Amin landed his first major break when ESPN hired him to call college football and basketball games, which he says isn’t always the case for broadcasters. “A lot of people get their break further down the line in their career, so I feel really grateful to have gotten mine so early in my career. I think a career like this can be a slog at times, so you really have to love the work.”
Over the course of nine years at ESPN, Amin quickly built a reputation as one of the most dynamic and versatile voices in sports broadcasting. He called college football games on ABC and ESPN, covered the NBA Playoffs on both ESPN and ESPN Radio, including three conference finals, and lent his voice to two Women’s Final Fours. His wide-ranging experience also includes MLB playoff broadcasts for ESPN Radio, five Women’s College World Series, the McDonald’s High School All-American Games, two Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contests, and several NCAA championship events. In addition to his play-by-play work, Amin hosted select episodes of Baseball Tonight and served as a studio anchor for NFL and college basketball coverage. In 2020, Adam left ESPN to take on his current role at FOX Sports.
When reflecting on all of the standout memories in his career, Amin says, “My career has gone to depths beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I have been very fortunate to be on the call for some amazing moments over the years, where championships have been decided at the buzzer or teams have accomplished amazing feats. I can name so many moments that I am grateful to have witnessed. It’s a blessing to have had a career long enough to have so many to choose from.”
With his years of experience and talent, it is hard to imagine that there is more for Adam Amin to do. Ever the dreamer, he says there are still a few big moments he’d love to experience. “My dad and I really bonded over tennis, and I love the sport, so I hope one day to be able to call a match at Wimbledon. He adds, “But anyone in my shoes wants to call the Super Bowl. It’s the biggest thing we have in American sports. We all want the chance to call Super Bowl Sunday. It’s probably another 10 or 15 years down the road for me, and that’s okay. It’s something I can work towards.”
Amin’s advice to aspiring broadcasters is to be a student of the craft and of the industry. He says, “When you are young in this business, looking around at what other talented broadcasters are doing and taking tips from their work can be hugely beneficial. You may not be able to replicate exactly what they do, because you have your own style, but listening critically to others and taking notes is so important.” He adds, “I think that applies to anything anybody wants to do. It doesn’t have to be broadcasting. If you’re a student of what you want to do, and deeply consider how you would do this job if you were in the position. Learn everything you can. You’ll get out of it what you put into it.”
