The woman behind the microphone and loudspeakers at Sacramento Republic FC’s home matches at Bonney Field, Jaime Coffee, hit the jackpot this weekend. As one of the public address announcers at this week’s Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., Coffee, who has previously worked as the PA for the Pac-12 Woman’s Basketball Tournament, is the first woman PA announcer to voice the men’s tournament being hosted at the MGM Grand.
Coffee is splitting PA duties with another Sacramento face, Scott Moak of the Sacramento Kings. Moak is the regular voice of the Pac-12 men’s tournament, but due to obligations with the Kings was unable to voice all of the tournament games, setting the stage for Coffee.
“I never even questioned it,” said Pac-12 Chief Marketing Officer Danette Leighton in a precious interview about the decision to bring Coffee aboard. “Jaime is phenomenal as a PA announcer. She has an understanding of the game, and she has a great voice and a great presence. Everywhere I’ve seen her work, the fans love her.”
Coffee, who joined Sacramento Republic FC as the club’s PA announcer during the inaugural season, is no stranger to breaking barriers. In 2014, she became the first known female PA announcer in NBA history when she stepped in to call a Sacramento Kings game. Coincidentally, she was also filling in for Moak at the time.
“As a child my family called me “motor mouth,” probably because I talked a lot,” said Coffee, looking back at how she began her career. “Who would have thought I was training for my career. This mouth is helping me break barriers and make history!”
As a PA announcer for basketball, Coffee has had to make a few adjustments compared to her duties at Republic FC matches. Traditionally, for Republic FC matches, Coffee calls only goals, cards, substitutions and corner kicks. In basketball, however, Coffee announces every basket, foul, out-of-bounds, time out or any other call affecting the game.
Coffee also noted that during basketball she sits courtside, compared to Republic FC matches where she’s located in the press box.
The woman behind the microphone and loudspeakers at Sacramento Republic FC’s home matches at Bonney Field, Jaime Coffee, hit the jackpot this weekend. As one of the public address announcers at this week’s Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., Coffee, who has previously worked as the PA for the Pac-12 Woman’s Basketball Tournament, is the first woman PA announcer to voice the men’s tournament being hosted at the MGM Grand.
Coffee is splitting PA duties with another Sacramento face, Scott Moak of the Sacramento Kings. Moak is the regular voice of the Pac-12 men’s tournament, but due to obligations with the Kings was unable to voice all of the tournament games, setting the stage for Coffee.
“I never even questioned it,” said Pac-12 Chief Marketing Officer Danette Leighton in a precious interview about the decision to bring Coffee aboard. “Jaime is phenomenal as a PA announcer. She has an understanding of the game, and she has a great voice and a great presence. Everywhere I’ve seen her work, the fans love her.”
Coffee, who joined Sacramento Republic FC as the club’s PA announcer during the inaugural season, is no stranger to breaking barriers. In 2014, she became the first known female PA announcer in NBA history when she stepped in to call a Sacramento Kings game. Coincidentally, she was also filling in for Moak at the time.
“As a child my family called me “motor mouth,” probably because I talked a lot,” said Coffee, looking back at how she began her career. “Who would have thought I was training for my career. This mouth is helping me break barriers and make history!”
As a PA announcer for basketball, Coffee has had to make a few adjustments compared to her duties at Republic FC matches. Traditionally, for Republic FC matches, Coffee calls only goals, cards, substitutions and corner kicks. In basketball, however, Coffee announces every basket, foul, out-of-bounds, time out or any other call affecting the game.
Coffee also noted that during basketball she sits courtside, compared to Republic FC matches where she’s located in the press box.
“I’m dodging a basketball or player flying across the scorer’s table here,” laughed Coffee.
Despite the differences, Coffee has found many similarities in her duties as PA announcer for the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament and Republic FC matches, especially in the passion of the fans and her interaction in-match or in-game with them.
“My favorite part of being a PA announcer is kick-starting the crowd,” said Coffee. “Even in my 15th year as a PA announcer, I still get a rush when the fans are cheering as I announce a call based on something that just occurred in either the match or a game, [such as a goal or basket].”
Coffee also noted that the perhaps the most familiar aspect of this weekend’s basketball tournament and Republic FC matches are the crowds, particular each team’s fans. While basketball doesn’t have a supporters groups like the Tower Bridge Battalion, many of the Pac-12 teams have student sections that strive to create similar atmosphere at games.
“The Tower Bridge Battalion has the same infectious energy as the rowdy student, band and cheerleader section at a college game,” said Coffee. “One of my favorite things about Republic FC are the loyal fans, especially the TBB.”
While this weekend’s Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament wraps up Saturday night when the University of Oregon takes on the University of Utah at 7:00 p.m., Coffee looks forward to taking her experiences at the tournament and bringing them back to Bonney Field.
“Who knows, maybe this [weekend] will catapult me into more firsts,” said Coffee. “But I’m ready to enter season three [for Republic FC] and I’m still loving every minute of it!”
“I’m dodging a basketball or player flying across the scorer’s table here,” laughed Coffee.
Despite the differences, Coffee has found many similarities in her duties as PA announcer for the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament and Republic FC matches, especially in the passion of the fans and her interaction in-match or in-game with them.
“My favorite part of being a PA announcer is kick-starting the crowd,” said Coffee. “Even in my 15th year as a PA announcer, I still get a rush when the fans are cheering as I announce a call based on something that just occurred in either the match or a game, [such as a goal or basket].”
Coffee also noted that the perhaps the most familiar aspect of this weekend’s basketball tournament and Republic FC matches are the crowds, particular each team’s fans. While basketball doesn’t have a supporters groups like the Tower Bridge Battalion, many of the Pac-12 teams have student sections that strive to create similar atmosphere at games.
“The Tower Bridge Battalion has the same infectious energy as the rowdy student, band and cheerleader section at a college game,” said Coffee. “One of my favorite things about Republic FC are the loyal fans, especially the TBB.”
While this weekend’s Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament wraps up Saturday night when the University of Oregon takes on the University of Utah at 7:00 p.m., Coffee looks forward to taking her experiences at the tournament and bringing them back to Bonney Field.
“Who knows, maybe this [weekend] will catapult me into more firsts,” said Coffee. “But I’m ready to enter season three [for Republic FC] and I’m still loving every minute of it!”
