Penn State’s Jim Nachtman Honored With SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award

The SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award honors innovators in video production and technology at the university level who have advanced the industry at large. At the SVG College Sports Summit in Atlanta today, the award was presented to Jim Nachtman, assistant athletic director, media and video production, Penn State University.

Jim Nachtman, assistant athletic director, media and video production, Penn State, accepting the award

A lifelong Nittany Lion, Nachtman graduated from Penn State in 1990 with a telecommunications degree and spent a decade (1989-99) as technical director of Penn State Public Broadcasting before joining the Department of Athletics in 1999 as director of broadcast operations. In March 2015, he was elevated to his current position.

“This whole experience has been overwhelming and humbling — and a little intimidating,” Nachtman said as he accepted the award. “I’m still in awe of all [previous Pioneer Award winners], and never in my wildest dreams could I have ever expected to be sitting in your company, especially considering there are so many people in this room more deserving of this than I am.”

Nachtman played a pivotal role in the conference-wide adoption of the Big Ten Network prior to its launch in August 2007. He also was instrumental in the technological infrastructure within the Pegula Ice Arena, the university’s state-of-the-art ice-hockey facility that opened its doors in October 2013. In addition, he helped oversee installation of a 152- by 37-ft. videoboard at Beaver Stadium in 2014, which currently ranks as the seventh-largest videoboard in college football.

Michigan State University’s Rich Church (left) presents the SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award to Nachtman.

“Jim has always been willing to share his ideas and best practices,” said Michigan State University’s Rich Church, who won the award in 2014 and made the presentation to Nachtman. “Not only does he produce and direct events; technologically, the guy is brilliant. He keeps up with the latest [technology] and, most recently, he’s built a brand-new ice arena and has completely rewired Beaver Stadium.”

Nachtman, an active member of the Sports Video Group and the SVG College Advisory Committee since their inceptions, lives in State College, PA, with his wife, Tina, and children Sarah, Katie, and Robert.

“I’ve been fortunate to work at an institution like Penn State for 25 years that’s provided me the opportunity to work with people that I consider family, that share a common passion and purpose that, when we work together, we can do great things. That includes our fans, our alums, our faculty, our coaches, and, most important, our student athletes. … And I’m extremely grateful.”

The recipient of the SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award is selected by a panel of past Pioneer Award honorees, current and former SVG College Sports Summit chairmen, SVG staff, and senior members of the SVG College Advisory Committee.

SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award Honorees
2016: Jim Nachtman, Penn State University
2015: John Kvatek, University of Central Florida
2015: Jeff Schmahl, Texas A&M University, University of Nebraska
2014: Rick Church, Michigan State University
2013: Mark Rodin, Florida State University
2012: Ken Norris, University of California, Los Angeles