Zack Bayrouty still remembers the thrill of calling his first University of the Pacific men’s basketball game in 2009 when the Tigers took on the California Golden Bears at the Stockton Arena.

“It was absolutely packed and it was a big draw,” Bayrouty said. “I remember it being a ton of fun and thought it would be awesome to do this for a full season.”

That memorable night has led to 17 years behind the microphone with Pacific men’s basketball. The opportunity became a journey filled with unforgettable moments, lasting relationships and a deep connection to Pacific.

 “Every time I start a Pacific broadcast, I feel so fortunate that it’s been this many years,” Bayrouty said. “I can tell the story with a lot of context, and I’ve met a lot of amazing people along the way at Pacific. They’ve been like a family to me.”

For Bayrouty, who is also the voice of the Sacramento River Cats, a career in broadcasting was never part of his career plan. Infact, he describes it asa “total accident.”

Bayrouty studied journalism at Northeastern with an emphasis on sports writing. While working as a public relations intern at Roger Dean Stadium in Florida during spring training, a Daytona Cubs broadcaster offered him an opportunity to join he broadcast and from there, his career took flight.

After graduating from Northeastern, Bayrouty moved to Stockton to help broadcast for the Stockton Ports, a Single-A baseball team. At the time, Pacific baseball was playing its home games at Banner Island Ballpark while Klein Family Field was under construction, giving Bayrouty an opportunity to connect with Pacific Athletics staff.

Those connections led to his first opportunity with the Tigers, calling the 2009 basketball game against Cal. He took on the role full time during the 2010-11 season and has been behind the microphone ever since.

“For me, it’s about telling the stories of both the players and the program,” Bayrouty said. “I’ve put a lot of years into the program and I’m pretty qualified to tell the story of where it’s been, both the good and the bad. 

“I was able to do our last tournament appearance in 2013. I look forward to the day when I can talk about that year again and reflect on that journey. I love telling those types of stories, year in and year out. There’s always a different story to tell and I love being the guy to do it.”

Head coach Dave Smart has been at the helm of the men’s basketball program for the last two seasons and said Pacific is lucky to have Bayrouty on board. 

"The past two year working with Zack has been great. He has done this a long time, and his experience and professionalism make every day it enjoyable and easy to work with him. We are always incredibly prepared, and he has an ability to know when to make it serious and when to make it light. Zack has always been honest and fair in his opinions. We are lucky to have him at Pacific."

From bus rides to team dinners, Bayrouty appreciates spending time with the coaches and staff, picking their brains about the game.

“The secret sauce of coaching has always fascinated me,” Bayrouty said. “It’s a lifelong pursuit of mine to try to get to the bottom of what makes a great mentor and teacher and I’ve learned a lot from the coaches and everyone that I’ve worked with at Pacific.” 

Among the many games he has called, Bayrouty’s favorite remains Pacific’s stunning 77-72 upset against BYU Feb. 6, 2016. The victory handed the Cougars their first home loss of the season and stood as one of the most memorable upsets in the West Coast Conference that year. 

“It was pretty stunning,” Bayrouty said. “I remember everyone was shocked in Provo. It was a testament to how much heart our players, coaches and program had. That to me was such an unbelievable win. I’ll never forget calling it.”

As Bayrouty continues his journey behind the microphone at Pacific, he looks forward to calling more unforgettable moments.