CAMPUS NEWS Sports


Behind the Scenes


Students get real-world experience producing content for Watch ESPN


Te Convocation Center is buzzing as


Fred Castro to Lead Women’s Basketball Program Fred Castro, considered a rising star in


the coaching ranks, is the new head women’s basketball coach at EMU. Castro comes to Ypsilanti from Seatle, where he spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Washington women’s basketball team. Te Huskies advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2016 aſter upseting No. 4 Stanford. Director of Athletics Heather Lyke says


that Castro “exudes confidence, preparation and passion. Most importantly, he genuinely wants to have a positive impact in the lives of our student-athletes and will make them even beter players and people. We are thrilled to welcome Fred and his family to the Eastern Michigan athletics team.” In addition to his work at the University


of Washington, the 36-year old Castro has coached at the University of Tulsa, the University of Albany, Rogers State University and the University of Oklahoma. He has held every position within a women’s basketball program, from offensive coordinator to recruiting coordinator. He has also served as an advance scout for the Atlanta Dream and the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. Castro, who hails from Denton, Texas, is


a graduate of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in aviation, and was an instructor in Oklahoma’s Aviation Department in 2004-05. He and his wife, Cindy, have a daughter, Aliya, 7, and a son, Alonzo, 1.


12 | SUMMER 2016 | EASTERN MAGAZINE


the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team warms up for a game. Spectators shuffle to their seats and the marching band performs the EMU fight song. Right below them, a trailer hums with its own sounds as Eastern students prepare to broadcast the game online. Brought to EMU in 2014, the broadcast


trailer is the result of an agreement between the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and ESPN. From this “studio,” Eastern students produce original content and stream it live to the Watch ESPN website. “Te trailer has done really well,” says


Greg Steiner, EMU assistant athletic director for media relations. “Not only has it goten the Eastern brand out, but it has goten our student athletes out there as well.” Instead of hiring freelance reporters,


the athletics department partners with the communication, media and theatre arts program to have students run the trailer on


game days. Out of the nine MAC schools, EMU is one of only three using student broadcasters. “We know our students are looking for


valuable opportunities to get hands-on, real- world experience,” Steiner says. “Tey help us put forth a wonderful broadcast and it has been a great partnership.” EMU streamed 38 events during the 2015-2016 academic year, including men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and volleyball. With increased Internet connectivity on campus, the plan is to eventually stream all EMU sporting events online. In addition to increasing awareness of


EMU athletics in cyberspace, the trailer is helping forge new relationships on campus. “People on our crew who had never atended an EMU sporting event before have become acquainted with our student- athletes,” Steiner says. “We have become a close-knit family.”


—Quinn Alexander


EMU is one of only three MAC schools using student broadcasters at its sporting events. The student work streamed live on Watch ESPN.


PHOTO EMU ATHLETICS


PHOTOS EMU ATHLETICS


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