Meet Daulton Cooper — recent graduate of Illinois Media School and the creative force behind the podcast, Between the Benches and is the Social Media Manager for SwervCup Events where is creates, manages, and optimizes social media content and strategies to enhance brand visibility, engagement, using platforms like Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram.

An Ohio native with a passion for storytelling and sports, Daulton’s journey is one of perseverance, curiosity, and community. After earning his Marketing and Business Management degree from Urbana University, Daulton explored various career paths across multiple states — from door-to-door sales to social media management — but it wasn’t until a vacation with friends that he truly found his calling.

With camera in hand, Daulton began capturing candid moments on the volleyball court, and the genuine appreciation he received sparked something bigger: a desire to highlight the stories of others. That spark led him to relocate to Chicago, where he dove headfirst into content creation, working events, building connections, and expanding his skill set. Illinois Media School played a pivotal role in refining those raw talents. Drawn in by the school’s hands-on learning environment and access to industry professionals, Daulton was able to level up — learning everything from audio equipment and editing software to developing intros, outros, and producing his own podcast. That podcast? It became the foundation for Between the Benches — a fun, authentic, and growing show started with two college friends who share his love for hockey and bowling. What began as nightly phone calls turned into recorded episodes that caught the attention of a Philadelphia-based sports network just eight months later. Daulton credits the repetition, mentorship, and support from Illinois Media School for giving him the confidence to launch his own venture. His dream? To one day build a media network that showcases real stories — much like Pat McAfee — creating space for humor, humanity, and community. His advice to current students: Always be a student of the game. No matter how long you’ve been doing something, stay open-minded, be curious, and constantly work to improve. Join Illinois Media School and Career Services Director Dustin Lingemann CPRW in celebrating Daulton’s journey — and stay tuned. The best is yet to come! 🎯🚀