Interview with Broadcasting Major Class of ‘26 Grant Flood

Have you ever wondered about how your favorite sports broadcasters got their start? Grant Flood, a broadcasting major and upcoming senior in the class of 2026 at Dean College says that “Listening to Jack Edwards call Boston Bruins games as a kid inspired me to follow this passion of mine.” Flood has been a client of House of Possibilities’ (HOPe) Coaching and College Navigation program since 2022. 

With graduation only a year away for this college student, Grant Flood is thinking about all the different ways to utilize a major in broadcasting. Although Flood is set on the sports media industry, there are a variety of pathways he could see his career take in the future. He tells us, “My goal has always been to become a play-by-play broadcaster, but there are many important roles in sports media. As a sideline reporter, you can interview coaches and athletes, and tell stories that can inform your listeners. I’m just passionate for the sports media industry, and [the] many ways I can see myself working in the future.” 

When thinking back on his greatest experiences in broadcasting, Flood shares that “One of my proudest moments was receiving press credentials for the 2021 NCAA Men’s March Madness tournament… I had the opportunity to interview basketball legends such as Patrick Ewing and Rick Pitino. Truly a moment I will never forget.”

HOPe’s Coaching and College Navigation program strives to help its members succeed in their academic and professional careers because every individual deserves to feel the sense of pride and accomplishment Flood has found through following his passion in sports broadcasting. Flood maintains that the best advice he can give to other autistic individuals considering a career in broadcasting or media is that one can never practice enough, though he also acknowledges that “The main challenge [as a broadcaster] is the hour or hours of preparation before each broadcast– a broadcaster needs to make sure they have more than enough information on each athlete, and to fill in as much air-time during a broadcast.” 

The amount of time and research that goes into broadcasting has never been a deterrent for Flood, nor has his unique perspective as an autistic person in the sports broadcasting industry. In fact, Flood has only become more determined as he has come closer to earning his degree. “I have always been told to be myself on the air, and nothing will change in that regard. I have gone through the development stage, just like every other broadcaster has. Learning terminology, getting familiar with your broadcasting partners… Most importantly, have fun, and use every broadcast as a learning experience.”