From a Childhood Dream to the Cardinals Radio Network: Joe Pott's Broadcasting Journey

Every sports broadcaster has a story about how the dream began. For Joe Pott, it started with a tape recorder, a love of radio and a childhood spent imitating the voices he heard calling sporting events.

Today, Pott is the play-by-play voice for most Southern Illinois University Edwardsville athletics. He also works with KMOX in St. Louis, where he has had the opportunity to be part of the Cardinals radio coverage.

His journey from a young fan pretending to call games to working alongside experienced broadcasters shows how a childhood passion can grow into a career built on preparation, persistence and a love of sports.

Where the Dream Began

Pott's interest in broadcasting started when he was young. He would record himself imitating play-by-play announcers into a tape recorder, practicing a skill that would eventually become his profession.

It was during his freshman year at the University of Dayton, however, that he knew broadcasting was the career he wanted.

Around 1996 or 1997, Pott called a Dayton Bombers hockey game for the university's campus radio station. The team did not have a radio station broadcasting its games, creating an opportunity for the campus station to step in.

That first experience calling a live sporting event helped confirm his future.

"And that's when I knew live play-by-play was for me," Pott said.

His time at Dayton gave him opportunities to call games on campus radio and local television. Those experiences helped prepare him for the challenges of working in sports broadcasting.

After college, Pott spent nearly a decade calling Gateway Grizzlies baseball. The job taught him the importance of being prepared, managing equipment and being ready to broadcast almost every night.

"It is where I developed my rhythm and many habits which I still have today," Pott said.

Those years helped build the foundation for the career he would continue developing at SIUE.

Building a Career at SIUE

Pott joined SIUE in 2008 as the university moved to Division I athletics. Recognizing that the school would need a broadcaster, he began asking around about opportunities.

He found a place where he could combine his love of sports with the opportunity to tell the stories of SIUE athletes.

His responsibilities eventually expanded beyond play-by-play. Pott began helping with sports information and ultimately took over the department.

SIUE also developed its video streaming operation, creating opportunities for students to gain experience producing sports broadcasts. Pott said he is proud of the students' work and enjoys working alongside them.

Over the years, he has witnessed plenty of memorable moments across SIUE athletics. One particularly meaningful achievement came in 2025, when the men's basketball team won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament.

"For those of us who had been here a while, we had been waiting for that moment!" Pott said.

After years of covering the program, experiencing that milestone made the achievement especially memorable.

A Dream Realized at KMOX

While Pott has built a long career at SIUE, his work with KMOX brought him closer to another lifelong connection.

Growing up, Pott listened to Cardinals baseball on KMOX. At a time when most games were not televised, radio was how he followed the team.

Now, he contributes to the station's sports coverage through Cardinals pregame shows, hosting and sports anchoring.

His opportunity at KMOX came through connections he had already established. An opening developed after the St. Louis Blues moved their broadcasts to another station, creating a need for a full-time studio host.

The opportunity allowed Pott to learn from experienced broadcasters he had listened to for years.

Then came a moment he will not forget: calling the final two innings of a Cardinals home game.

For someone who grew up listening to those broadcasts, stepping into that role meant much more than simply filling time on the air.

"As I said at the time, it is hard to put into words when a dream is realized and that is truly what happened when I was able to be on the game broadcast," Pott said.

The experience connected the young fan listening to Cardinals games with the broadcaster who finally got to call one himself.

The Work Behind the Microphone

Although listeners hear the finished product, much of a broadcaster's work happens before the game begins.

Pott prepares differently for his two roles. At SIUE, he gathers information and prepares to call an entire contest from start to finish.

At KMOX, his pregame work centers on specific segments and delivering information to the game broadcasters. When the Cardinals are on the road, he relies more heavily on recorded material rather than conducting his own interviews.

Preparation is important, but live sports always bring the possibility of something unexpected. For Pott, that unpredictability remains one of the best parts of the job.

He recalled an unusual SIUE baseball play in which the ball deflected off both the pitcher and the umpire before SIUE turned a double play. Pott said he had never seen anything like it, and a clip of the play later received approximately 90,000 views on social media.

Moments like that remind him why live broadcasting continues to excite him. No matter how much preparation goes into a game, nobody knows exactly what will happen next.

Pott hopes listeners can hear that preparation in his broadcasts and that he accurately conveys both the action and the emotions of the game.

Advice for Aspiring Broadcasters

For students hoping to enter sports broadcasting, Pott's advice is straightforward: Be prepared to work and remain persistent.

He recognizes that there are more opportunities for broadcasters today, but he emphasizes that success still requires dedication.

Pott's own career reflects that message. From recording play-by-play calls as a child to spending years in independent-league baseball and building a career at SIUE and KMOX, he developed his skills through experience and hard work.

His journey also demonstrates that a broadcasting career can take unexpected turns. One opportunity can open the door to another, and some of the most meaningful moments come after years of preparation.

For Pott, the excitement remains much the same as it was when he first called that hockey game at Dayton. The next play is always waiting, and nobody knows exactly what will happen.