Katrina Hancock ’00 Made a Career in Sports Broadcasting

04/18/2011 6:10 PM

In the male-dominated field of sports broadcasting, Bradley alumna Katrina Hancock has used drive and ambition to make a name for herself.

Now the weekend sports anchor/reporter for WDIV in Detroit, Mich., Hancock graduated from Bradley in 2000. Her degree is in the unlikely combination of chemistry and communication.

“I didn’t know that I wanted to do this until my fifth year of college,” said Hancock.

She began her education at Wichita State, but after two years transferred to Bradley to play basketball. Before switching to communication, Hancock was a chemistry major with medical aspirations.

“When I got in communications it was like I had been riding a bike for 15 years,” she said. “It felt like I was at home.”

Hancock finished the communication degree requirements in one year.

“If you knew Katrina and her determination you wouldn’t be surprised that she was able to get it done,” said Paul Gullifor, chairman of the Department of Communications.

Hancock began her career in Cheyenne, Wyo., at KGWN, and then spent a year and a half at KSNT in Topeka, Kan. and three years at WTVG in Toledo, Ohio. In 2006 she was offered the position at WDIV that she still holds.

“Every time I’ve moved I’ve had to prove myself over again. A lot of men don’t want to see a woman do sports,” said Hancock.

She believes playing basketball on the college level prepared her for the struggles she faces in her career.

 “I want to win. I want to have the best show every night,” said Hancock. “And I think it gives me an edge. I know what an athlete is going through because I’ve been through it myself.”

With the creation of the sports communication major at Bradley, many students have flocked to the department.

“I think it’s really important that our students know her story, because she’s an example of the fact that there is a place for women in this program,” said Gullifor. “There is a place for women in this career field.”

Hancock’s advice for students pursuing a career in communications is to be engaged -read a newspaper, get on twitter and interact with the people around you.

“Bradley prepared me for the business,” said Hancock. “Be aggressive. Don’t give up.”