Former ESPN reporter Andy Katz has found a new gig, ESPN has hired a slew of former college basketball players and coaches, and NBC NHL analyst Eddie Olczyk has made his season debut.
Katz to Big Ten Network
Former ESPN college basketball reporter Andy Katz, who was included in the network’s massive talent layoffs earlier this year, will contribute to Big Ten Network during the 2017-18 season. According to Awful Announcing, Katz will take a part-time role that includes appearances in the studio and on select games. Laid off ESPN employees will continue to receive salary from the network until the expiration of their contracts so long as they do not violate their non-compete clauses, which has resulted in most of them taking what amount to odd-jobs. [Awful Announcing 10.18]
ESPN Hires Several For College Hoops
ESPN has hired a slew of former coaches and players to contribute to its college basketball coverage this season, headlined by former Indiana coach Tom Crean and former Georgetown coach John Thompson III. Crean will work in the studio and Thompson on games. Also joining ESPN are former NBA players Caron Butler and Robbie Hummel, who will work games, and former ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes, who will appear in studio on SEC Network. [ESPN PR 10.16]
Olczyk Makes Season Debut
NBC Sports and Chicago Blackhawks NHL analyst Eddie Olczyk, who is battling cancer, made his season debut last week on NBCSN’s Blackhawks-Blues and WGN’s Oilers-Blackhawks telecasts. Olczyk is hoping to return to the booth November 5 for a Blackhawks-Canadiens game, but as one would expect is not close to taking on a full-time schedule yet. According to the Chicago Tribune, he is a quarter of the way through a 24-week treatment regimen. [Chicago Tribune 10.18, 10.17]
