There are many elements that make up the ambiance of a Penn State basketball game –– fans buzzing around the BJC, the Legion of Blue’s roaring chants, and that one guy who wears a monkey costume to every game. Another key piece is the stadium’s music.

The man behind the music is Penn State alum Ryan Breisinger, who rocks a festive pseudonym: DJ Breis Gordan. Since the beginning of the 2022 Penn State basketball season, “Gordan” has been rocking the Bryce Jordan.

“It’s literally like a dream come true,” Breisinger said. “Every time I walk into the arena, I’m like, ‘I’m actually DJing for the Bryce Jordan Center.'”

Breisinger’s love of Penn State is no surprise. Hailing from a Penn State family in Jefferson Hills, Pittsburgh, Breisinger studied at Penn State, starting in Altoona and finishing at University Park.

Breisinger graduated in 2014 with an undergrad in special education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction. While living in State College, he worked at Cafe 210 West.

“You know, I did the whole Penn State thing. I was hardly ever home. I loved every second of being in State College,” said Breisinger.

Breisinger started DJing at the end of his college career, working house parties.

“Looking back on it, I never thought DJing would be a career for me. Just because it doesn’t seem like a traditional job. But I’ve always loved music, always loved events.” Breisinger said. “During college was when the big EDM boom happened with like Avicii, Tiesto, and Swedish House Mafia. It really put a spotlight on DJing for me.”

Breisinger has been DJing for eight years, getting his start by searching “DJ lessons” on Craigslist. Though his music started slow, one gig led to another and eventually, Breisinger made it a career.

Around Pittsburgh, Breisinger has played at the Foxtail, Spirit, and Stage AE, working alongside names such as Wuki, Loud Luxury, and Cheat Codes. He has also worked at events hosted by Nestle, F45 Training, and Night Nation Run.

“I surrounded myself with people who would help me, genuine people, that would help me,” Breisinger said. “And I really took it seriously, just getting better with mixing and learning.”

Breisinger’s gig at the BJC started after he received a direct message on Instagram from Michael Hazel, Penn State’s then-senior director of football operations, asking if he had ever DJed sporting events.

Initially, Breisinger was invited to DJ at Beaver Stadium, but due to time conflicts, he wasn’t able to. Still, Penn State wanted to get him in touch with the basketball program. Breisinger was put in contact with Penn State Director of Marketing and Fan Experience Rebecca Plescia, and the rest is history.

The name “Breis Gordan” has actually been Breisinger’s nickname since elementary school. After arriving at Penn State, and faced with an abundance of Ryan’s, the name stuck.

‘When I picked up DJing, I was DJ Breis. I was like, ‘I’m gonna throw Gordon on there as like a play on the Bryce Jordan Center.’ So, that’s how that all came about,” said Breisinger.

Outside of the basketball season, Breisinger DJs multiple events a week for various clubs, weddings, and even high school dances.

“You gotta have thick skin because those kids are brutal,” said Breisinger. “It keeps you in the loop about what people want to hear, though. I would say the teaching background definitely helped me with understanding and working with people of all ages.”

For any aspiring DJs out there, Breisinger recommends remaining open-minded, getting familiar with the hardware, as well as finding a community and a good mentor (which is often just a DM away).

“Do you love music? Because you really, really have to love music to get into this. There is sometimes music that I’m not the biggest fan of. But, I find a way to like it,” said Breisinger. “I see a lot of DJs get into DJing, and they just want to DJ EDM or hip hop. That’s cool, but you’re really putting yourself in a corner and putting limitations on yourself.”

“It took me a while to feel comfortable with people asking what I do for a living, saying I’m a DJ, it was awkward. Now, I can really sit here and be proud to say it, which was a huge accomplishment for me,” said Breisinger.

To listen to Breisinger or stay up to date on his tour dates, you can follow him on Instagram or find his mixes on his website and Mix Cloud. Breisinger also occasionally plays sets at State College’s The Basement.