Former Indiana basketball stud Dan Dakich is exceeding expectations as a sports talk host.
Dakich played for Coach Bob Knight from 1981 to 1985. He was also the first a graduate assistant coach under "The General" from 1985-87 and then an assistant coach at Indiana from 1987 to 1997.
Double-D is most known for his tremendous lockdown defense on Michael Jordan in the 1984 East Regional Semifinal. Dakich got the nod from Coach Knight that he would be given the duties of defending MJ and in the post game interview he said, “it wasn’t very hard.”
In 1997 he left IU to become the head coach of Bowling Green University. He was there 10 years before later returning to IU as the director of operations. Following the Kelvin Sampson debacle, Dakich was named the interim coach and he immediately cleaned up the program.
When Tom Crean was named head coach of the Hoosiers, Dakich was forced to look elsewhere. It was then when Kent Sterling, program director of ESPN 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis, had the brilliant idea of bringing Dakich on as a radio host.
Beginning October 6, 2008, he is the host of “The Dan Dakich Show,” and it continues to improve each day. Dan is brutally honest and that’s what people like about him. He tells it how it is.
I was fortunate to work under Dakich during the summer of 2009. He is a genuinely great guy with a passion for family, sports and having a great time. There were so many days when before the show, he would talk about all the fun yet stupid things he did when he was a kid.
Although I’m sure Dan would like to get back into coaching, it must be a good fit. Currently, he is thriving on the radio weekdays from noon to 3 PM and will soon began commentary on ESPN basketball broadcasts replacing Steve Lavin.
The very outspoken Dakich has developed a very loyal fan base over his two years on the airwaves. He doesn’t provide your ordinary sports talk radio opinion and his sources are deep. There’s not a topic out there that Dan doesn’t have an insider for.
There are many things that Dan has gotten better at with time and the biggest thing is teases. A great radio host previews what the show will cover for the day and tease topics throughout the show.
Listeners lately have been obsessed with Dakich’s knowledge in regards to IU basketball recruiting. It’s fascinating that many listeners and message board posters question his reliability and sources. How ignorant. Nonetheless, because of DD’s knowledge, sources and fantastic teases, I’m sure his ratings are the highest they’ve ever been. I realize he doesn’t care who and how many people are listening but I know the business side of WFNI loves it.
Although he would love to return to coaching, Dan is prospering as a sports talk host. A brilliant move by Kent Sterling and Dan has made the most of it.