Inductees

He broke into the Ozarks’ sports broadcasting scene of in the mid- to late 1980s, initially covering American Legion baseball and certainly taking mental notes from seasoned radio veterans.

Yet Scott McCaulley soon realized that, if he wanted to truly chase his dream, he would have to venture outside of Springfield because all others were nowhere near retirement. So, in 1990 and at age 26 – and after hearing of colleagues pass on a radio gig in Branson – his headset pointed south down U.S. 65.

“I thought, ‘Well, maybe I wanted do it,’” McCaulley said.

Not only did he do the job, but he has done it well. McCaulley has been the Sports Director at Branson’s KOMC/KRZK Radio since April 1990, with the 2020 fall marking his 31^st season of Branson High School football. Which is one of the many reasons why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted McCaulley with the Class of 2020.

Through October 2, 2020, he had covered 327 consecutive Branson football games – No. 300 came in 2017 as the Pirates played at Lebanon – and handled numerous other broadcasts.

His coverage has included College of the Ozarks men’s and women’s basketball (MSHOF 2018) as well as 18 NAIA Division II men’s basketball tournaments, including all 18 national championship games. McCaulley also spent 10 years on broadcasts of Evangel University football and much more.

“When I came to Branson, I thought it would be a stepping-stone job,” McCaulley said. “I figured I’d be here three to four years and come back to Springfield. … Eventually, I realized, what I wanted to do goal-wise is that I could achieve it here. It’s a small town but, because it’s a visitor’s area, you have all the amenities of a big city. In 1996, I said, ‘This may be it.’”

McCaulley had graduated from Greenwood High School in 1982, after having helped the football team (MSHOF 2017) win the Class 1 state championship. Before graduating from Missouri State University in 1986, he was a student manager for the baseball team all four years but didn’t decide on a media major until halfway through.

Fortunately, a role as a high school football reporter for Telecable came about in 1986. Thus, over the next four years, including time with KWTO radio, his sports path meant learning from Ky3 TV Sports Director Ned Reynolds (MSHOF Legend 2015) and the voice of the Missouri State Bears, Art Hains (MSHOF 2016), as well as Mediacom broadcaster Don West (MSHOF 2020) and longtime minor league baseball broadcaster Rob Evans.

West and Evans were major influences as they showed the right way to handle broadcasts. In fact, McCaulley’s first assignment was a Springfield American Legion game in which West needed a fill-in when the Telecable analyst, Evangel basketball coach Steve Jenkins (MSHOF 2016), was summoned to umpire the game.

In Branson, KRZK’s Greg Pryon hired McCaulley, and he along with Steve Willoughby worked with him to coordinate the broadcasts.

McCaulley covered a majority of the career of coach Steve Hancock (MSHOF 2009) as the Pirates reached the playoffs 12 times, including state semifinal berths in 1996 and 1997.

Among his favorite games? Branson football beating defending state champion Webb City in 1998; the 1992 Pirates beating Willard on a long field goal by Travis Brawner (Elite 11 2018); the atmosphere of a 2008 game against Carthage; and Fernando Cedeno’s game-winning field goal vs. Kickapoo in 2010.

Basketball-wise, NAIA D-II Tournament games come to mind, including Evangel’s 2002, and C of O’s 2006 national championship victories. One year, he juggled the NAIA Tournament as well as Forsyth and Reeds Spring Final Four trips over a few short days.

McCaulley has also called Final Four basketball games involving, Blue Eye, Bradleyville and Hollister, and Branson, Forsyth and Hollister baseball. He also hosted “Hometown Sports Spotlight” on The Vacation Channel for 10 years.

On air, McCaulley is a true pro. Having forged relationships with the Branson football staff and fellow broadcasters, he receives scouting reports so that he knows who is who. Stats and a wall of other information (for more accuracy) enhances it all.

“You’re not going to treat them (the Pirates) with kid gloves, but you’re also not going to attack either,” McCaulley said. “For anyone who is listening, I want to be fair. But they know I’m covering it for Branson.”

Overall, what a career it’s been, made more special thanks to the support of his wife, Karen.

Said McCaulley, “I’ve just been involved in something really special here.”