It didn\u2019t take John Fanta long to make an impression on Seton Hall Vice President and Director of Athletics Pat Lyons. As a freshman, Fanta, a broadcasting wunderkind from Westlake, Ohio, sounded so good behind a microphone and proved so determined to master his craft, Lyons says he \u201cused to kid John and say he was going to be a one-and-done.\u201d<\/p>\n
One-and-done describes talented basketball players entering the NBA after just one season of college ball. Seeing \u2014 and hearing \u2014 Fanta\u2019s talent, Lyons figured he could skip the rest of school and enter the broadcasting field.<\/span><\/p>\n Fanta, who is now a senior, stuck around, and in three years he has become, in Lyons\u2019s words, \u201cthe face and the voice of Seton Hall athletics. He\u2019s as talented a student as I\u2019ve ever come across.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Fanta is one of the lead play-by-play announcers for Seton Hall athletics through the Pirate Sports Network, a hard-working group of students who produce more than 50 live Pirates sporting events a year. He got his start as a freshman by announcing a women\u2019s soccer game, commentating so well on a sport he knew little about that he earned the attention of many people at the school.<\/p>\n But now he does much more, especially for the athletics department\u2019s website, shupirates.com. Fanta tells the story of Seton Hall sports with the weekly On Deck<\/i> web show. He broadcasts many home events and works with the athletic communications staff to produce videos and handle media requests. He occasionally travels with the teams, taking trips where he is both a reporter and his own videographer. Among other gigs, he also works as a correspondent for the BIG EAST Digital Network.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt Fanta has given a lot to the school, but to hear him talk, Seton Hall has provided him just as much. Comparing his relationship to the University to a marriage, Fanta says, \u201cThey\u2019ve been nothing but great to me in giving me opportunity after opportunity, and in always being there for me. Any question I ask, they have an answer for me, always a helpful hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Even back in Ohio, where he grew up the oldest of four kids, local journalists wrote stories about Fanta\u2019s work ethic and skills as a young broadcaster, noting the traits that later won over the Seton Hall community. Although he remains a diehard fan of Cleveland sports, Fanta wanted to leave Ohio for school and decided upon Seton Hall because of its location in the New York area, the Catholic education, and the people he encountered on his visit and during other interactions.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were always saying, \u2018We want you here. You can have an immediate opportunity,\u2019\u201d Fanta says.<\/p>\n Fanta seized those chances, not just with Seton Hall athletics, but also through internships with Westwood One Sports Radio, CNBC, and, this summer, with Fox Sports out in Los Angeles. When he enters the broadcasting world full-time, Fanta says, he could see himself in a variety of roles. Maybe he\u2019ll do play-by-play. Or perhaps he\u2019ll quarterback an entire crew as a studio host. He could excel with an insider-type role on the sidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n As he\u2019s shown at Seton Hall by doing everything, he possesses the talent to do just about anything. And when he does graduate, Lyons says, \u201cYou\u2019re not going to replace him. He\u2019s beyond his years. He\u2019s got the work ethic; he\u2019s got the talent; he\u2019s got the maturity of someone twice his age. This kid is as good as they come.\u201d<\/p>\n But Fanta has one more year as a student, continuing to tell the stories of student-athletes who aren\u2019t just interview subjects, but peers. He understands what athletes go through in classes, and on campus he sees their human side.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel honored to have the role that I have, and that\u2019s why I put in the hours that I do,\u201d he says. \u201cThe athletes keep me going, and my pursuit of a career keeps me going. And the fact that Seton Hall has trusted me with this role \u2014 that really keeps me rolling.\u201d<\/p>\n By Shawn Fury<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It didn\u2019t take John Fanta long to make an impression on Seton Hall Vice President and Director of Athletics Pat Lyons. As a freshman, Fanta, a broadcasting wunderkind from Westlake, Ohio, sounded so good behind a microphone and proved so determined to master his craft, Lyons says he \u201cused to kid John and say he was going to be a one-and-done.\u201d<\/p>\n