Bucks new sideline reporter Katie George was star volleyball player, Miss Kentucky
The Milwaukee Bucks hired Katie George, a former sports anchor in Louisville, college volleyball standout and Miss Kentucky USA, as their new sideline and digital reporter.
George replaces Telly Hughes, who covered the Bucks for eight seasons and spent the past two years within the organization but was let go by the Bucks this off-season.
George's addition is part of a shakeup to the Bucks' broadcast team on Fox Sports Wisconsin. That group now includes Jim Paschke, Marques Johnson, Steve Novak and Craig Coshun.
Gus Johnson, who called a limited number of games for the Bucks each season starting in 2015, will no longer be a member of the broadcast team, a source told the Journal Sentinel. Jon McGlocklin, one of the original Bucks players who has spent over four decades calling games, remains with the team in a different role.
George comes to the Bucks from WDRB-TV in Louisville, where she was a sports reporter and anchor for two years. At the University of Louisville, she earned All-American honorable mention honors in volleyball and was the ACC setter and player of the year as a senior in 2015.
George also was crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2015 and placed in the top 11 at the Miss USA 2015 Pageant.
“Katie is an excellent storyteller who will bring her enthusiasm and charisma to Bucks games on Fox Sports Wisconsin and throughout our digital channels,” Bucks president Peter Feigin said in a release Friday.
“We are confident that she will be well received by Bucks fans worldwide and is a terrific addition to our standout broadcast and digital teams.”
“I’m thrilled to join the Milwaukee Bucks’ organization during such an exciting time,” George said in the release. “With the recent hire of Mike Budenholzer, the opening of the state-of-the-art Fiserv Forum and the return of a star-studded roster, I jumped at the opportunity to join the team.
"The Bucks’ rich tradition combined with a passionate, loyal fan base will make for a bright future. I am looking forward to embracing Milwaukee as my new home.”