The BearCast is excited to welcome Jason Miller to the broadcast crew for the 2024 season. Jason has been the PA Announcer at the Little Rose Bowl for the past 18 years and will now be calling the play-by-play on the live streams of varsity West Branch Football games, something that has been a dream of his.

Miller, who grew up in West Branch and is a long-time resident, was in the Little Rose Bowl PA Announcer seat since 2006 and had the honor of announcing many special games, including Coach Butch Pedersen's 300th win in 2018, the thrilling double-OT victory over Sigourney-Keota in 2013, and the 2022 quarterfinal thriller against MFL-MarMac, to name a few. His long-time dedication to the program has helped spur incredible media relations, the West Branch Football website, and the BearCast, among many others.

“This is the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream. I'm humbled and extremely thankful to be offered this position and am looking forward to calling games for the program I've loved since childhood. I'm filling some big shoes. The hope is that we continue to give the listener the feeling of being IN the game, without being physically AT the game.”

Miller has also served as the program's quasi-Sports Information Director since 2002, assisting Coach Pedersen, Coaches Hierseman/Braddock/Bailey, and now Coach Nestor with media relations and game day coordination. Coincidentally, Miller was on play-by-play for the first BearCast broadcast in 2014.

Miller is replacing Mike Quinlan who stepped away from the BearCast and Voice of the Bears after the 2023 season. Quinlan was the Voice of the Bears since 2006, providing play-by-play for the video recordings of games. In 2014, Quinlan joined the newly-formed BearCast alongside co-Voice of the Bears Steven Grace. The infectious duo called eight seasons of games together with the help of original Voice of the Bears, Jerry Fleagle, and West Branch graduate Jarod Tylee. When Grace joined the West Branch coaching staff in 2022, Quinlan stepped back into the play-by-play role with Tylee on color.

With Tylee recently joining the West Branch coaching staff as Varsity Offensive Coordinator, Miller will be partnered with a variety of distinguished program-connected guests to help call the games throughout the 2024 season.

Miller joins an incredible line of Voices of the Bears, starting with Jerry Fleagle (1983-1986), Wayne Laing (1987-2005), Mike Quinlan (2006-2023), and Steven Grace (2014-2021).

"Jerry was an amazing table setter for what was to come. One of my earliest memories is his call of a Marv Cook fumble recovery touchdown at Columbus Junction during the 1983 season. Wayner took Jerry's lead and had the unique ability to grab your attention and give you the feeling of being right there with him in the booth. He was the VoTB for an entire championship generation. Quinny was a direct extension of Wayne. He, too, is THE voice that almost 20 seasons of Bear players and families know. Steven has a radio background with an amazing flow and cadence; a true professional.

"West Branch is lucky to have had them all. I can only hope to do the program as much good and justice as those before me have."

In Miller's place as PA Announcer, the program is excited to welcome Nikki Koenig.

“Her energy is extremely positive.” Miller says. “She has the best of West Branch at heart, and will do an an outstanding job.”

Since 2014, the BearCast provides an audio live stream of every regular season varsity game, home and away. Starting in the 2023 season, video live streams of home games were added as an even better way for fans to stay connected to the program and catch games anywhere they are in the world.

The Bears kickoff their 2024 campaign on Friday, August 30 on Butch Pedersen Field at the Little Rose Bowl. If you cannot attend the game, you can catch a live video stream of varsity games on the BearCast and the West Branch Football YouTube channel.