Pacers hire Brooke Olzendam as new sideline reporter on FSI

Although the NBA is unsure when the first games of the season will be played, the Indiana Pacers and FOX Sports Indiana have hired Brooke Olzendam (OHL-zen-dam) as their new host and sideline reporter for Pacers television broadcasts.

After the official announcement Wednesday, Olzendam expressed her feelings on twitter. “Can’t wait to be a Midwest Girl…Thx for the support Indy! I wish I had the power to end the lockout, my bad. Can’t wait to get there!”

Olzendam replaces Stacy Paetz, whose contract was not renewed after seven seasons with the Pacers and FOX Sports Indiana. She will be paired together with play-by-play guy Chris Denari and Quinn Buckner or Clark Kellogg on game broadcasts.

She began her career at the University of Washington, and then was the sideline reporter for UCLA football. After that she worked at Comcast SportsNet Northwest with duties that included hosting the pre and postgame show of Portland Trail Blazers telecasts. Lately, Olzendam had been serving as the sideline reporter for college football on the CBS College Sports Network. Some of those duties she will continue.

Jamie Berns, the Pacers Vice President of Broadcasting and director on game nights, was in charge of the hire and liked what he saw from Olzendam.

“Brooke is a talented, experienced broadcaster who lights up the screen,” Berns said. “She will be a great addition to our team not only on-air, but also in the community.”

From the news release– “Born in Spokane, Wash., and a graduate of the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, Olzendam also has a passion for basketball that stems from her father Dave Olzendam, a member of the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame.”

To get a feel for Brooke Olzendam, below is an interview she did with SportsNetworker over a year ago.