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Syracuse University Alum Kevin Belbey has a Keen Eye to Spot Talent On-Air and On the Court

John Smith/WAER News

SU Alumni weekend known as Orange Central also means a chance for students to meet successful alumni and get some inspiration and make connections.  Kevin Belbey earned a Broadcast and Digital Journalism Degree in 2013 from the Newhouse School of Public Communications and a Masters degree in 2016 from the SU School of Law.  Belbey currently serves as an agent for a broadcast sports talent agency, the Montag Group in New York City.

"I enjoyed getting to know people and learning their stories and I always liked giving people advice and trying to help them become better and just being a good friend... and really, that’s all I do.  In my job as an agent, it's just trying to help people become the best versions of themselves and, you know, help them create legacies.”

Belbey says that he fell in love with the industry and found himself naturally good at problem solving.  As a student, he also became the Head Manager for the SU Men’s Basketball Team.  His passion for Orange Basketball continues as the General Manager of Boeheim’s Army that he launched.

“... And I am a Syracuse fan but, if you like grew up watching these guys and to see like John Gillon and Eric Devendorf in the backcourt together, I mean, they played 10 years apart.  I really have a dream job of  just kind of being a fantasy basketball general manager putting this team together.  So, I have no complaints, this is a lot of fun for me.”  

Belbey says he wasn’t really sure if Orange fans would be receptive or even want to follow the team in ‘The Basketball Tournament’ with a grand prize of $2,000,000.  However, they ended up selling out tickets on the road in previous years, and this summer, the team finally played in Syracuse.

“It's really taken off and we've grown year after year and we've tried to do a lot of different things in the community... giving back to the Boys and Girls Club that's here.  This year we partnered with the Jim and Julie Boeheim Foundation with the ticket sales and everything.  So, we raised almost $20,000 for the Boeheim Foundation which was cool.”  

Syracuse University is honoring Belbey this weekend with a Generation Orange Alumni Award for his continued involvement at the university in support of the team, students and the community.  He also spent time sharing his career journey and offering advice to aspiring students at the Newhouse School.   

John Smith has been waking up WAER listeners for a long time as our Local Co-Host of Morning Edition with timely news and information, working alongside student Sportscasters from the Newhouse School.