Debbie Antonelli quickly became an influential figure in sports broadcasting following a fruitful year at Ohio University.
She enrolled in the institute’s Sports Administration and Facility Management master’s programme in 1987 which gave her the grounding to succeed.
Antonelli graduated from the course and quickly landed a pioneering role as the first director of marketing in athletics at the University of Kentucky where she stayed for four years.
Her job there began as an internship that was part of the course at Ohio University.
She then moved into a similar position at The Ohio State University for another four years where the skills she honed on the course really came into play.
Ohio State boasts one of the most successful athletic programmes in the United States but did not have any televised women’s sports at the time.
Antonelli, a former collegiate level basketball player, was determined to change that and put the women’s game front and centre.
Leading the charge in women’s basketball broadcasting
“The course allowed me to utilise my basketball platform to help expand and grow women’s basketball,” Antonelli says.
“In the beginning, I actually created my own network so that I could call games at Ohio State. That’s one of the things that I am really proud of in my long career.
“I went to the local cable company, and I asked them if they could produce sports. They said they didn’t know so I said, ‘Tell me what it would cost. Let’s give it a try. Let’s go to women’s basketball and produce some television.’
“And so, we did.
“Ohio State had, I would say, the first television network in college basketball on the women’s side.
“My experience, my network of people that I could call on, and my Ohio University family all played a role in helping me build the foundation for my career and then continue to extend it to a high level.”
Antonelli initially arranged a deal with the station to air eight women’s games per season.
To do this she managed to attract crucial sponsorships which would fund the production of these broadcasts, and she became the play-by-play commentator.
The early success she found with this ensured that she set her mind to sports broadcasting as a career.
She was then hired by ESPN and CBS Sports Network for select games where she excelled behind the microphone and to this day is still providing coverage of high-level basketball.
Network connections
Antonelli has gone on to win two Emmy Awards for her work in broadcasting and was also inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame two years ago.
She credits the alumni network at Ohio University for helping to get her where she is now.
Being in an environment that surrounded her with likeminded ambitious people stands out to Antonelli from her time at the university as well as the industry experience it provided.
“The programme was about the people, that’s what I enjoyed the most,” she says.
“We had a high-level group of people that wanted to work in sport, and this was the best programme, the best place, and the best opportunity to get a job after we graduated.
“You were provided the academic framework to be able to learn and to navigate what you might like to do, and the internship was invaluable because that’s real-life experience that can’t be learnt from the classroom.
“I thought all the professors played a role in everyone getting a job and helping them navigate what they wanted to do next.
“I think that was the most important thing. It all goes back to the people.”
Students and graduates of Ohio University have access to a directory with alumni contact details that allows them to get in touch for career advice and guidance.
Antonelli says anyone in the database is happy to pick up the phone because for her it is more of a family than just a network.
She treats the responsibility of being an Ohio University graduate with the utmost care.
“I have students from Ohio University that reach out to me now and we always try to help,” Antonelli says.
“If there’s something that we can provide, whether it be advice, give them a lead for a job, or pass their résumé on that is part of our duty as Ohio University graduates.”
Find out more about online MSA and dual MBA/MSA courses at Ohio