Sports broadcasters enjoy
the Bobcat beat

Two telecommunications graduates have become part of a TV sports reporting team that regularly covers their favorite subject: Ohio University.

Dan DeCrow, BSC ’92, is lead anchor and Tony Burke, BSC ’91, is the producer of two programs that debuted on Fox Sports Ohio last summer. “Regional Sports Report” and “Ohio Sports Tonight” are 30-minute broadcasts covering Ohio high school, college and professional sports.

The alums work closely but not in a traditional sense: DeCrow is based in Chicago while Burke lives in Cleveland.

“The fact that I grew up following Ohio teams drew me to this job,” says DeCrow, who worked as a sports anchor and reporter at WNWO-TV in Toledo for three years and WKEF-TV in Dayton for five years before taking the Fox job last year.“I’m thankful that Ohio University provides the opportunity for students willing to work hard enough to make it in this business.”

Burke produces all aspects of the news operation and oversees the station’s news bureaus in Cleveland and Cincinnati. He arrived at Fox from Classic Productions in Cleveland, where he served as an executive producer. Prior to that, he worked as executive sports producer at WOIO-TV and WUAB-TV in Cleveland.

“Ohio University gave me so much hands-on experience,” Burke says. “I was more prepared to work in television than graduates from other schools.

“I went to school with Dan, and I knew he was an Ohio guy. That’s why I wanted him as my anchor.”

Ohio University’s connection with Fox Sports Ohio doesn’t end with DeCrow and Burke. Matt Coiner, BSC ’92, is a videographer for the regional sports shows.

— George Mauzy