Bill Garren named Mountain West Video Coordinator of the Year
For Utah State University assistant athletics director and director of video operations Bill Garren, Aggie Football is more than what happens on the field. Eight-time Mountain West Conference Video Coordinator of the Year, Garren is involved in Mountain West Conference broadcasting and the behind-the-scenes footage that helps coaches and players win games.
“It’s a little different than what you would see on a live broadcast,” Garren said. “I’ve got students that are strategically put in spots that are for coach’s film, and then we handle all of the stuff that’s on the field.”
Garren is in his 20th year as the director of video operations at USU. During his time in the industry, Garren has seen a massive technological shift from VHS tapes to digital servers. Now, coaches and players can watch film as soon as they walk off the field.
According to Garren, the videos they take aren’t just movies — they’re packed with data.
“Every play, everything that we do, has some piece of data that goes with it,” Garren said. “It could be play name. It could be formations. It could be anything that they want to use.”
Garren also supports streaming for softball and soccer games.
“We do the full production where we have multiple cameras around, just like you when you’re watching it on TV,” Garren said. “You get the tight shots, and you get the broadcasters that are talking and the play-by-play announcer and all that stuff. That’s all our crew.”
Garren said working with students and coaches is what excites him the most about his job.
“I love working with the staff and then seeing how what we do translates onto the field,” Garren said.
According to Garren, players interact with a huge variety of people before making it to the field.
“I think that’s the driving factor for me, is to work with the students and teach them the importance of something like this that goes way beyond any one person,” Garren said. “It’s all of us working together to put a product out there that coaches and players can watch, which hopefully will translate on a game day.”
According to Parker Weber, the director of video for football at Boise State University and a previous student filmmaker at USU, Garren’s mentorship is invaluable.
“He’s really still my mentor to this day. I wouldn’t be where I’m at without him,” Weber said.
After graduation, Weber was hired to work as Garren’s assistant, and he said Garren’s attention to detail and the way he leads students are what make him great at his job.
“He knows how to get the best out of students, out of people he’s working with, out of his team,” Weber said.
Weber said Garren has been a support system not only for himself but for students and others in the industry.
“He’s willing to help anybody in any way he can,” Weber said.
After playing football at Ricks College, now known as Brigham Young University-Idaho, and Idaho State University, Garren said he wanted to stay in coaching.
“I was helping with coaching, and video became one of those things I could help out with,” Garren said. “I really didn’t have any prior experience. I just said, ‘Put me wherever you need me to help out.’”
Garren said his time as a student-athlete helped prepare him for the quick evolutions of the job.
“Back then, I didn’t fully know what was happening to get the film in front of me to watch it, but as an athlete, you learn how to become resilient,” Garren said. “You learn how to be adaptable to the changes and the fast pace.”
John Sullivan, associate commissioner for football of the Mountain West Conference, described Garren as a multitool: well-versed in broadcast, video and other relevant subjects. Sullivan said he believes Garren has been nominated for the award so many times for both his technical abilities and his communication skills.
“He works really well with myself, the conference office. He works really well with all the video coordinators within the Mountain West and on the national scale with all FBS conferences,” Sullivan said. “He keeps everybody on track and on task and very well organized.
Garren says he’s proud of the achievement and credits his student crew and full-time staff.
“We worked long, long hours and tirelessly to make sure that this stuff looks good for the viewers and the players and coaches,” Garren said.