John Fanta ’13 comes from a long line of Saint Ignatius men. Growing up, he imitated the ways in which his grandfather, father, and uncles lived out what it means to be a Man for Others, in anticipation of his time at Saint Ignatius. “From the time I was little, there was never a question of whether or not I would be at 1911 West 30th. It was always known. And when you grow up going to Byers Field on a Saturday night, or going to Sullivan Gym on Fridays and Saturdays during the winter to stay warm, you quickly learn that Saint Ignatius is a place for everybody,” John shares.
When John arrived at Saint Ignatius as a freshman, he was determined to play football with the Wildcats. However, a few days after his freshman season ended, John’s father asked him what he was planning to do next. “It goes along with that whole idea of an ‘and’ man at Saint Ignatius,” John explains, “there's so much that this place offers.”
A few days later, John approached Athletic Director Rory Fitzpatrick ’88 in search of a new opportunity and was sent over to Jeff McCormick ’83 to talk about the Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Network (SIBN). At the time, the SIBN was new to campus, and John was ready to dive right in. The pair talked for more than two hours, and by the time the conversation ended, John had agreed to join SIBN.
McCormick invited John to be a cameraman at Wildcat basketball games, and soon after, John was on air as a broadcaster for SIBN. “I proceeded to learn every position on a broadcast, from behind the scenes to play-by-play to analyst to pre-game host to halftime host to reporter to interviewing coaches and student-athletes, and everything in between. That all goes back to Mr. McCormick,” John explains.
John credits his relationships with faculty members, including Coach Chuck Kyle ’69, McCormick, and Fitzpatrick, with much of his success. John was a heavily involved student at Saint Ignatius, participating in football, chorus, the Cat-o’-Tonics, student senate, and SIBN. “For me, this place has countless relationships and connections and lessons that I still take with me today about doing things the right way,” John says. “Anything is possible at Saint Ignatius High School.”
John’s participation in SIBN sparked a passion that inspired him to pursue a career as a professional sports broadcaster. After graduating from Saint Ignatius, John went on to study journalism at Seton Hall University, where he followed the mens and womens basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, and soccer teams across the country as a broadcaster, traveling to over half of the US states while doing so. After college, the Big East Network hired John to host his own show, The Big East Shootaround. In 2018, John became a Fox Sports college basketball play-by-play commentator and reporter.
Throughout his successful career, John has stayed connected with young broadcasters, both in his current state of New Jersey and back home at Saint Ignatius, by volunteering at camps and school broadcasting programs. “The message has always been the same: ‘Do it for someone else when they need you down the road. Be that person, be that Man for Others.’ ‘Man for Others’ is not just a phrase here. We live it. And the feeling that you get when you're in this building and on this campus is a feeling I never want to leave my heart,” John shares.
Being selected for the Young Alumnus Award was a profoundly emotional moment for John, especially as he remembered his late father, who had been one of his biggest supporters. John attributes his success to the unwavering support of his family, particularly his parents, Gerry and Molly, who ensured he could attend and excel at Saint Ignatius, and his wife, Victoria, who has been by his side throughout his career. For John, this honor is not just a personal achievement but a tribute to his family's legacy at Saint Ignatius High School.
John Fanta will be presented with the 2024 Young Alumnus Award at the 1886 Society Leadership Awards on September 26th, 2024.