When University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Nate Bayes sat down at his computer as a freshman to broadcast his friends’ esports matches “just for fun,” he couldn’t have imagined that four years later he’d be running livestream productions for an entire university program – or getting paid to call professional tournaments.
But that’s exactly where Bayes’ initiative and enthusiasm have taken him.
Bayes, who’s poised to graduate in December with a degree in sports management and a minor in communications, serves as the student intern for UTC’s esports program, overseeing livestreams, coordinating schedules and making sure players’ families and friends can share in the excitement of every match.
“My goal through all of this has been to elevate UTC esports as it continues to grow,” Bayes says. “I want the players to have opportunities for their families and friends to watch, too.”
From tennis to broadcasting
Bayes’ journey into sportscasting began not behind a microphone but on a tennis court. In high school, he captained the tennis team for two years under a coach who also headed the school’s news program.
“I was in a lot of his classes because they were relatively easy and he was my coach. I liked hanging out with him,” Bayes recalls. “Through that, I became involved with the news, worked on the sports side and was an anchor for a bit. That experience introduced me to sportscasting.”
Bayes began calling traditional sports like basketball and baseball and then dipped into esports commentary when opportunities arose. When one of his best friends, Brady McGrath – now UTC’s “Rocket League” captain – suggested he help broadcast their matches, he didn’t hesitate. (“Rocket League” combines soccer with rocket-powered cars, challenging players to score goals in physics-driven matches.)
“I was a freshman, so why not? It’s fun when opportunities like that pop up,” Bayes says.
What started as solo streams from his apartment quickly evolved as UTC’s esports scene began to flourish. Bayes took on more responsibilities, volunteered to run productions and eventually was offered the student internship in May.
Building UTC’s esports presence
As the program’s intern, Bayes’ role extends well beyond calling matches. He runs the majority of livestream production for multiple teams, coordinates schedules, ensures matches are broadcast smoothly and works to bring lesser-known games into the spotlight so that every student has a platform.
“A lot of students have families who would love to see their games,” he says. “So I make sure their matches are scheduled and streamed.”
Bayes’ work culminated in UTC’s Scenic City Invitational, a major collegiate tournament held in September that brought 20 schools and more than 100 competitors to campus. He oversaw the livestream for the entire event – a high-pressure production that marked a turning point in his budding career.
A breakout moment
The Scenic City Invitational didn’t just test Bayes’ skills as a producer and broadcaster, it also gave him his favorite casting moment so far.
Bayes was calling the final match alongside his longtime broadcast partner Mitchell “Mitch” Grabowski. Concord University was facing East Tennessee State University in a best-of-seven “Rocket League” series that had reached overtime in game six.
“Concord was on match point. If they scored one more goal, it was over,” Bayes remembers. “One of their players, Simas, went up for a skilled shot off the backboard and sent it into the net. The crowd exploded.”
Bayes delivered his call, then stepped back from the microphone and let the audience take over. The entire venue erupted into a chant of “Simas!” as the Norwegian player – all 6-foot-5, 260 pounds of him – celebrated onstage.
“I said my line, then looked at Mitch and said, ‘Let’s just let them do the work,’” Bayes says. “They chanted for about 30 seconds – it was super cool. My success in that moment was reading the room and letting it tell the story.”
A unique skill set
Bayes attributes his growth as a caster to mastering three key elements: storytelling, explosion and connectivity.
Storytelling means building narratives within games – rivalries, underdog arcs and breakout freshman performances. Explosion is matching the energy of big plays, amplifying moments to get the crowd hyped. Connectivity is weaving those elements together while seamlessly shifting between play-by-play and color commentary.
“Rocket League is high-powered action from start to finish,” he explains. “That suits me well because I love the fast pace.”
These skills have opened professional doors. After building a highlight reel from UTC broadcasts, Bayes was approached by a semi-professional “Rocket League” team to cast their season. That led to work with other universities, including Indiana Tech, and eventually a gig at DreamHack, one of the world’s largest gaming events.
“I’ve been very fortunate with the opportunities that have come my way,” Bayes says. “But I also know I’ve worked hard to make the most of them.”
A future in playback?
As graduation nears, Bayes isn’t locked into one path. He sees multiple avenues ahead: sports management, professional esports casting or perhaps returning to UTC to help grow the esports program.
“In a dream world, I’d be a baseball play-by-play guy – like a Joe Buck or a Kevin Harlan,” he says. “I think that’d be fun, and I believe I have the talent to do it. It’s just a matter of finding the right opportunity.”
Whatever Bayes chooses, he expects the lessons he’s learned from esports – quick thinking, teamwork, empathy and leadership – to stay with him. Managing large events with dozens of teams and troubleshooting problems on the fly has taught him how to lead under pressure.
“When we had 20 teams here, issues came up, and I had to solve them within five minutes,” he says. “And the ability to build and strengthen relationships is something I can apply anywhere.”
For now, though, Bayes is focused on finishing strong – both in the classroom and behind the mic. As UTC’s esports program grows, his voice has become one of the clearest and most enthusiastic advocates for the scene. And whether he’s narrating a “Rocket League” overtime or a baseball ninth inning someday, he’ll be doing what he loves: telling great stories through sports.