Brooke Olzendam hired as Pac-12 Networks sideline reporter
COUGARS
Just checked into our hotel here in Burbank, Calif. -- following a flight on which Snoop Dogg was a first-class passenger -- a day ahead of tomorrow's Pac-12 football media day. There will be plenty to pass along from that, but there was also some WSU -- and Spokane -- related news out of the Pac-12 office earlier today. Brooke Olzendam, a WSU graduate and former Spokane resident, has been added to the Pac-12 Networks' on-air team as a sideline reporter for the upcoming season.
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Olzendam, whose father Dave coached high school basketball in Washington for 31 years before being inducted into the WIBCA Hall of Fame, currently serves as a sideline reporter for Indiana Pacers telecasts. Here's Olzendam's bio from the Pac-12 release:
Brooke Olzendam, current sideline reporter for the Indiana Pacers and FOX Sports Indiana, teams with play-by-play voice Dave Flemming and color analyst Coy Wire to provide sideline reports for Pac-12 Networks football game telecasts. Olzendam has served in similar roles with several networks including a two-year stint as the football sideline reporter for CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports West and Prime Ticket. Olzendam also covered a broad spectrum of sports for Comcast SportsNet Northwest including the MLB and horse racing and hosted pre and postgame shows for the Portland Trail Blazers. A graduate of the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, Olzendam began her broadcasting career covering the University of Washington as host of “Huskies All-Access” and providing sideline reports for UW football and basketball games.
Another name recognizable to Northwest sports fans -- Kevin Calabro, who called Sonics games before Clay Bennett stole the team from Seattle, will serve as a play-by-play man.
Here are the rest of the on-air talent profiles, as provided by the Pac-12:
Ashley Adamson, studio host
Ashley Adamson joins Pac-12 Networks as a studio host for its football coverage shows. Previously, Adamson spent two years as a sports anchor and reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis where she covered a variety of sports leagues including the NBA, NFL, NCAA football, men’s basketball and NASCAR. Adamson began her broadcasting career in 2008 with Newschannel 9 WSYR in Syracuse, NY where she spent two years as the weekend sports anchor and reporter for the ABC affiliate. A native of Denver, CO, Adamson earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston College followed by a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University.
Adam Archuleta, game analyst
Former NFL and Arizona State safety Adam Archuleta joins Pac-12 Networks as an analyst for the Networks live game production slate. He is joined in the booth by play-by-play voice Kevin Calabro with former USC coach Yogi Roth reporting from the sidelines. Archuleta played eight seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders where he combined for 530 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles. Archuleta began his collegiate career at Arizona State as a walk-on before rising to a starting position at linebacker for three years recording 330 tackles, 14 sacks, six fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles in four seasons. As a senior, Archuleta earned Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a First-team All-Pac-10 selection.
Kevin Calabro, game announcer
Seattle sports personality Kevin Calabro joins Pac-12 Networks as a game announcer alongside Adam Archuleta in the booth and Yogi Roth on the sidelines. Calabro spent 21 seasons as the radio and television announcer for the Seattle SuperSonics until the team moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. The media broadcasting veteran has also served as a play-by-play contributor for TNT, TBS and ESPN Radio broadcasts of the NBA and in 2000 was the voice of the U.S. Men’s Basketball Olympic team for Westwood One. Calabro began his career as one of the youngest play-by-play announcers in NBA history, hired at age 26 by the Kansas City Kings during the 1983-84 season. In addition to his duties with Pac-12 Networks, Calabro is also host of ‘The Kevin Calabro Show’ airing weekdays on 710 ESPN Radio Seattle.
Curtis Conway, studio analyst
Former NFL and USC wide receiver Curtis Conway joins Pac-12 Networks as a football studio analyst. A native of Los Angeles, CA, Conway had a 12-year career in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers, combining for 594 receptions for 8,230 yards and 52 touchdowns. While at USC, he was a first team All-American selection in 1992 and still holds the USC record for most kickoff return yards. In addition to his work with Pac-12 Networks, Conway also serves as a color analyst for Compass Media Networks’ college football and NFL radio broadcasts, as well as appearing regularly on FOX 11 Los Angeles’ NFL highlight show Overtime.
Dave Flemming, game announcer
Dave Flemming joins Pac-12 Networks as the play-by-play voice for Pac-12 Conference football matchups alongside color analyst Coy Wire and sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam. Flemming is a familiar name to Bay Area sports fans as the on-air radio voice for San Francisco Giants broadcasts on KNBR-AM for the past nine years, as well as handling radio play-by-play duties for Stanford football and serving as a substitute announcer on Golden State Warriors radio broadcasts.
Ryan Nece, sideline reporter/analyst
Former NFL and UCLA linebacker Ryan Nece is part of a broadcast trio that includes play-by-play voice Ted Robinson and color analyst Glenn Parker and will provide sideline reports during Pac-12 Networks live football game telecasts. He also joins his father, Hall of Fame linebacker Ronnie Lott, as part of the Pac-12 Networks football talent roster. Nece spent seven seasons in the NFL from 2002-2008 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions. During his rookie season with Tampa Bay, Nece was name the team’s Rookie of the Year and helped the Bucs to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title in 2002 (XXXVII). Prior to his NFL career, he enjoyed a standout collegiate career for the Bruins, combining for 281 tackles and 10 sacks as a four-year starter. In addition to his work for Pac-12 Networks, Nece also serves as a football analyst for Bright House Sports.
Brooke Olzendam, sideline reporter
Brooke Olzendam, current sideline reporter for the Indiana Pacers and FOX Sports Indiana, teams with play-by-play voice Dave Flemming and color analyst Coy Wire to provide sideline reports for Pac-12 Networks football game telecasts. Olzendam has served in similar roles with several networks including a two-year stint as the football sideline reporter for CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports West and Prime Ticket. Olzendam also covered a broad spectrum of sports for Comcast SportsNet Northwest including the MLB and horse racing and hosted pre and postgame shows for the Portland Trail Blazers. A graduate of the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, Olzendam began her broadcasting career covering the University of Washington as host of “Huskies All-Access” and providing sideline reports for UW football and basketball games.
Glenn Parker, game/studio analyst
Veteran analyst Glenn Parker brings a wealth of broadcasting experience to his role as game and studio analyst for Pac-12 Networks football coverage. In 2011, Parker served as a college football game analyst for Versus’ slate of Pac-12 contests, as well as providing studio analysis for the network’s college football coverage. At the NFL level, Parker is currently an analyst for the Arizona Cardinals radio broadcasts and hosts the daily radio show “In the House” on 1290 AM The Source in Tucson. Prior to joining the Cardinals radio team, Glenn contributed to various shows on Fox Sports Arizona including the Cardinals postgame show and “Sound Off.” A graduate of the University of Arizona, Parker enjoyed a 12-year career in the NFL as an offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chief and New York Giants, playing in five Super Bowls.
Ted Robinson, game announcer
Two-time Emmy winning announcer Ted Robinson comes to Pac-12 Networks with extensive broadcasting experience over the last 30 years covering a variety of sports. Robinson teams with analyst Glenn Parker and sideline reporter Ryan Nece for select Pac-12 football telecasts during the 2012 season. Since 2009, he has been the voice of the San Francisco 49ers radio broadcasts and also works NBC providing play-by-play for tennis, swimming, diving, college football and basketball. The 2012 Summer Olympic games in London marks his seventh Olympic Games assignment for the network where he will cover diving events. Robinson’s broadcasting career has included stints with several networks including CBS, TBS, FSN, USA Network, Versus and Westwood One, as well as game announcer roles for several teams including the Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Charlotte Hornets and Stanford football.
Yogi Roth, sideline reporter/analyst
As a former USC football coach, collegiate student-athlete and media personality, Yogi Roth brings a multi-dimensional resume to his sideline reporter duties with the Pac-12 Networks this fall. Most recently, Roth served as an analyst and producer for ESPN, appearing on ‘College Football Live’ and the ‘Elite 11’ quarterback show, as well as producing the network documentary ‘3 for the Show.’ During a two-year coaching stint with the USC Trojans, Roth was part of former head coach Pete Carroll’s staff that developed Pac-10 championship-winning quarterbacks John David Booty and Mark Sanchez. A former wide receiver at the University of Pittsburgh, Roth co-authored Win Forever with Carroll which reached #7 on the New York Times best-sellers list.
Coy Wire, game analyst
Former Stanford Cardinal Coy Wire joins Pac-12 Networks following a nine-year NFL career at linebacker for the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons. Wire partners with play-by-play voice Dave Flemming and sideline reporter Brooke Olzendamfor Pac-12 Networks football telecasts for the 2012 season. As a third round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2002 NFL Draft, Wire compiled 202 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble in his professional playing career. At Stanford, Wire split time at linebacker and running back and stands as the only person in modern times to lead the Cardinal in rushing as a running back and follow up two years later leading the team in tackles as a linebacker.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple