Alumni Spotlight: Ben Bagley ('22)

 

Ben Bagley (’22) honed his craft in sports journalism by broadcasting games at WWU and by majoring in journalism with a public relations concentration. In 2022, with graduation looming, he applied for more than 40 internships before landing a position with the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, as a communications coordinator.

As the baseball season came to a close, he saw another opportunity—an internship with the Detroit Pistons. He loved the internship, and at its conclusion, he applied for a full-time position with the Pistons. Much to his excitement, Ben was hired on full-time as a public relations coordinator with the team.

“It's been a fantastic experience to join the Pistons full-time after my internship and to return to the same team and city for another NBA season. My department handles media relations with the team, so I've had great opportunities to learn and work hands-on with the players, coaches, writers, broadcasters and team executives.”

Ben provides game information, stats, notes on performance and other data to the media.

 

Ben Bagley celebrating with his family and another of Ben Bagley at his work.

“This season I began working closer with 48-year veteran Pistons play-by-play announcer George Blaha, and it has been extremely rewarding to be able to work with and learn from accomplished, seasoned and decorated professionals in my day-to-day. The team has made strides as well, and it's been exciting to have a front-row seat to witness the resurgence of basketball and sports in Detroit.”

A proud Viking, Ben is grateful to have had the hands-on experience at Western that he might not have gotten at a larger school.

“I am proud to be able to look back on my nearly two years now as a Western graduate and realize how much I've grown and accomplished in my field. I am only a few steps into my mountain of a career adventure, but I am thankful that I can take the next step every day with confidence knowing that the community I am in and the communities I have graduated from all support and propel me to achieve at the best of my ability.”