In honor of North Central Missouri College’s centennial, NCMC will spotlight 100 inspiring stories throughout the academic year. These narratives will showcase the voices and journeys of our alumni, students, faculty, staff, donors, and the communities that have shaped TJC/NCMC’s legacy. Each story is a tribute to the people throughout history who make NCMC extraordinary.
Rick Cole
From Rock ’n’ Roll DJ to the Voice of Pirates Athletics
When fans watch a North Central Missouri College Pirates game in full HD — complete with instant replays, scoreboard graphics, play-by-play announcing, and highlight clips posted before the final buzzer — they’re seeing the result of the system I designed and our student-powered crew lead.
I’ve had a great professional life — 18 years as a special education teacher and coach, a stint as a college baseball coach, and over 30 years as a broadcaster. My coaching experience gives me a unique perspective in the broadcast booth and taught me a lot about preparation, which is crucial to producing a smooth, professional telecast.
Long before NCMC, I worked in radio. From 1977 to 1983, I was a rock ’n’ roll DJ, spinning vinyl and energizing the airwaves. That led to a full radio career serving as a Sports Director, Music Director, and Program Director, covering everything from Friday night football to community events.
After moving to Missouri in 1999, we formed an analog broadcast company on Comcast Cable and over-the-air stations in Kansas City. Soon after, I began building one of the first internet-based sports broadcasting systems in the region. It wasn’t a calculated change — consumer demand was shifting toward easily accessed digital content, and we adapted to meet that need.
The move worked out well: I first developed a broadcast network for summer collegiate baseball supported by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, followed by two seasons of Rockhurst University basketball broadcasts, and finally a turnkey solution for William Jewell College football and basketball broadcasts. That work turned into a full-time job developing live-streaming telecasts of 11 different sports over 12 years. During that time, we built one of the top in-house NCAA Division II multi-camera broadcast systems in the nation — and even laid the groundwork for the first conference-wide broadcast network in NCAA Division II.
Over the course of my career, I’ve broadcast more than 5,000 games — football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, wrestling, baseball, softball, and more — becoming a familiar voice to generations of sports fans across Missouri and beyond. Each game is special, and each one is an opportunity to tell a story worth hearing.
Seven years ago, we brought that experience to NCMC and founded Pirates Digital Media. Since then, we’ve turned the broadcasting operation into a student-powered learning lab. We have developed a structured broadcast crew with clearly defined roles: Producer, Director, Replay/Graphics Operator, Camera Operators, and On-Air Talent.
We hold students to high expectations for professionalism and continuous improvement. We recruit, train, and mentor them — giving them hands-on production experience that can launch careers in sports media, journalism, or live event production.
I’m proud of the way we’ve continued to improve and innovate. From designing a multi-camera production workflow from scratch to incorporating tools like the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Extreme ISO switcher, PTZ cameras, and HUDL Production Truck software, we have built a broadcast operation that rivals much larger programs.
We’ve also experimented with new technologies, such as integrating security camera feeds for remote monitoring, testing AI-powered highlight clipping, and automating postgame video packages — always with an eye toward making broadcasts smoother and more engaging.
And we are growing. In 2018, we had a single student involved in production; last year we had 21 student workers, and this year we expect over 30. More students mean more creativity, more energy, and more stories to tell.
As Pirates Digital Media continues to grow, my goal remains the same: to promote NCMC while giving students the chance to learn, lead, and shine. Every event is a classroom, every crew member has a role, and every broadcast is a chance to get better.
After more than 40 years in broadcasting, I’m as passionate as ever about bringing NCMC to people near and far — and about helping the next generation discover their voice in digital media.
The centennial celebration will continue throughout the academic year, and NCMC invites alumni, students, faculty, staff, and our communities to be part of the story. We would love to hear your story about Trenton Junior College/North Central Missouri College. Visit the Centennial Website to submit your own story, memory, or reflection. Whether you walked the halls decades ago or are just beginning your journey, your story is a vital thread in the college’s tapestry, and we want to hear it.
Visit the Centennial Website to explore Trenton Junior College/North Central Missouri College stories, rich history, and discover upcoming events.
Photo: Rick Cole