Meet the face behind the mic: Brandon Elliott is PA announcer and now educator

There’s something about a familiar voice that becomes part of a place.

You might not always see the person behind it. You may not even think about it in the moment. But it’s there—echoing through Friday night lights, bouncing off gym walls, weaving itself into the memories of games that mean a little more in a small town.

For one Montgomery County native, that voice has come full circle.

From a goalkeeper on the pitch to a radio DJ behind the mic, and now a teacher and PA announcer back where it all began, Brandon Elliott’s journey is a reminder that sometimes the path home is the one that matters most.

Long before he ever picked up a microphone, he was just a kid chasing a soccer ball.

“I played soccer from the time I figured out how to run and all the way through high school,” he said. “I was a goalkeeper for the MCHS teams back in the late ’90s.”

One moment still stands above the rest, “stopping two PKs on senior night.”

It’s the kind of moment that sticks—not just because of the outcome, but because of what it represents. A program with pride. A community with tradition. “MoCo has a strong soccer heritage,” he said. “I was proud to be a part of that.”

That connection never left. Even now, he still finds time to catch a match when he can, appreciating a program that has stayed true to its roots.

His next chapter took him behind the mic.

With a degree in electronic media production, his sights were set early on radio broadcasting. He got his start reading news and sports on WMKY, the local NPR affiliate, before working his way into larger markets.

“I grew up listening to a different era of radio DJs, like Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge” he said. “I remember thinking their job was to have fun—and like any kid, I figured that was what I wanted to do.” And for a time, that’s exactly what he did.

From a small station in West Liberty to iHeartRadio in Lexington, he became a familiar voice across multiple stations, including 104.5 The Cat and Double-Q. Along the way, he experienced the kind of moments most fans only dream about.

“The best part was producing UK sports,” he said. “What UK fan wouldn’t want that kind of access and get paid for it?” But like many careers during that era, it was impacted by change.

After radio ended, a series of jobs during the recession and with a growing family, he and his wife made a decision that would shape the next chapter of his life. “What better place than Mt. Sterling?” he said.

That decision didn’t just bring him back geographically—it opened the door to something new. Education.

Encouraged by family who had spent their lives in the field, he gave teaching a try. What started as a substitute position quickly turned into something more.

“I loved it,” he said. “I could see why my mother said it was so rewarding.”

Now a middle school teacher, he’s found purpose in a place he once sat as a student.

“I’m glad to be able to give back to the community that raised me,” he said. “I never imagined myself as a teacher, but it’s given me the opportunity to make a difference.”

Somewhere along the way, the microphone found him again. His first experience as a PA announcer actually came in high school—a last-minute fill-in opportunity that didn’t exactly go as planned.

“I mixed up a lot of the names ... including our own players,” he said with a laugh. But it was a start.

Years later, through connections and opportunities in Lexington and beyond, he gained experience calling games at multiple levels—including college athletics—before eventually landing back in Montgomery County.

“I sort of fell into it,” he said. “The goal is to add to the experience,” he said. “Like the musical score in a movie.” It’s a craft that requires energy, awareness and just the right touch.

“You know you’ve done it right if you’re tired at the end.”

Despite all the moments he’s been a part of, one stands out—though maybe not for the reason you’d expect.

Cayden Reed’s buzzer-beater in last year’s regional final. “The arena was electric,” he said. “But if I’m honest, I wish I hadn’t said anything. I wish I had just let that moment sit on its own.”

It’s a reflection of how seriously he takes the role—always striving to find the balance between presence and restraint.

In the classroom, that same perspective carries over. He sees pieces of himself in the students he teaches, even as times continue to change.

“These kids have the same likes and habits we did,” he said. “They just have different dreams.”

And while the questions may be different now, the goal remains the same. “I want them to keep their curiosity,” he said. “Learning is something we can do our entire lives.”

Whether it’s in the classroom or behind the microphone, his purpose is clear. To give back. To enhance the moment. To be part of something bigger than himself.

“If someone is sitting in the stands hearing my voice,” he said, “I hope they enjoy the game more. I hope I can contribute to the excitement.”

Because in the end, the voice may fade when the game is over. But the feeling—the memory—that’s what lasts.

And sometimes, it’s the voice in the background that helps bring it all to life.