At the University of West Georgia, where every game is a chance to shine, a student-led production team turns passion into tangible experience. Behind the scenes, the students in UWG Productions gain hands-on skills in media production, teamwork and problem solving, all while bringing the excitement of college sports to life on ESPN+.
“The hands-on experience that our students gain at UWG Productions is second to none,” said Corey Speights, UWG’s director of academic technology and digital media solutions and staff advisor for the organization. “That’s one of the things that separate us – the student experience. They’re able to come into the control room and become familiar with industry-standard gear, which is invaluable in any career.”
The result: setting students up for success well before they graduate and the ability to walk into their career field after Commencement prepared and with confidence. Speights said working in a live environment helps them with both.
“That creates a heightened level of concentration,” he continued. “It’s one of the main challenges, but they overcome those challenges by being prepared, taking time between classes to become familiar with the technology so they understand how everything works on gameday. Some mistakes will still happen. I reassure them that this is a learning environment, and if you learn how to work in the pressure of a live environment, you can pretty much do anything.”
Speights, who also teaches in the College of Education’s Sport Management program, said this type of experiential learning is a valuable supplement to classroom education because it allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world situations, deepening understanding, building practical skills and fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that traditional lectures alone may not fully develop.
“Yes, you need the coursework, and you need the degree,” he added. “But the hands-on practical experience is what’s going to separate you from the others when it’s time for you to get your first job after graduation.”
In a sports broadcast, there can be 20-30 positions behind the scenes, Speights explained. Those roles include directing, producing, on-air talent such as sideline reporters, replay operators who edit live-action shots and queue them for playback, audio mixing, and live stats and graphics.
It was that same knowledge and confidence that enabled sport management alumnus and former graduate assistant Drew Gentry ’23 to clinch a graphic design position with the NBA just 18 months after graduating from UWG.
“I’ve always had a specific niche with graphics,” Gentry shared. “I remember spending hours at UWG Productions building out visual packages and pulling data from other places to give our show an enhanced quality. At UWG, there’s communication aspects that you don’t really get a lot of places. The experiential learning allows you to dive in and figure out what’s best not only for yourself but also the career path you want.”
Gentry, who knew Speights from his undergraduate days at Elon University, said a strong faculty support system is essential for an education journey, as it provides guidance, mentorship and resources that can help students succeed academically and personally.
“I’m forever grateful for UWG and what everyone gave me,” he concluded. “They give students the keys, the tools and the opportunities to present and find your voice. You get to lead the Pack in your own way. There’s something special at UWG that is only going to continue to grow with the elevation to Division I athletics. I think it’s going to become one of the most predominant programs across the country for students to get that hands-on production experience.”
UWG News sat down with three current students working for UWG Productions to talk about their experiences. Here are some highlights:
Why did you decide to join the UWG Productions team?
Carrington Bothwell, producer: I was a graphic design major, transferring to UWG. My brother Alex ’23 was the graduate assistant for UWG Productions and gave me a tour of the control room. That’s where I met Corey (Speights) who showed me the graphics machine. I was hooked. Working in live productions is such a rush and making graphics is cool, but I wanted to keep elevating my work. So, I started shadowing Drew (Gentry ’23) as producer, and when he graduated, I earned his position.
How have you grown professionally by working on live broadcasts?
Jayla Cochran, content creator: Being at UWG Productions has really opened up my career opportunities and has introduced me to more jobs than before I had an interest in sports. It’s made me more confident in my abilities and taught me to trust myself and to be in-the-moment in high-pressure situations. It also taught me how to be a better leader and team player, ensuring everything works together for a greater purpose.
How have you grown professionally by working on live broadcasts?
Alecia Lee, director: I used to hate talking to people. I was always the quiet kid who would sit back, observe and pick up on people’s body language. Now that I’m able to be more communicative, I’m the one who’s bringing people out of their shells. I help them learn and find out what they want to do. This position also helped me with decision-making. In this business, you must make decisions quickly and trust your gut.
What type of feedback has helped you improve?
Cochran: Recently, we were fortunate enough to meet with Dr. Ashwani Monga, UWG’s new interim president, as a team. We were able to share with him how we came to the university and UWG Productions and highlight our accomplishments. It was nice to be acknowledged for what we’re doing as students, which is being able to broadcast to ESPN with our skills for the benefit of our university.
Do you have a favorite memory you think about often?
Lee: Corey’s very big on throwing us into action. This means that if we had an opening and he trusted you or needed someone there, you were filling that role. So, it came time to do a replay, the replay was down, and Corey put me in the director’s seat for the first time. I was so nervous, but my graduate assistant, who’s now a good friend, said, “You can do it, and you’re doing it now.” There’s only so much you can do to prepare for live production – move through it.
How has being a part of UWG Productions impacted your overall student experience?
Bothwell: It’s given me connections, a sense of urgency and a passion for what I do. Production has always been a light for me because I may be stressed or I might be overwhelmed in the control room, but at the end of the day it’s been something that has constantly brought me joy. Without UWG Productions, my college path would’ve been completely different. It’s laid the foundation for how my career will grow.
