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Imagine witnessing a basketball game where the legendary college basketball coach Bob Knight chucked a chair onto the court. Then imagine growing up in Bloomington, Ind., where at the ages of 10 and 11, you witnessed the back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1975-76 by Indiana University’s basketball team.
For Mitch Hyder, the broadcaster for DU men’s and women’s basketball, this was childhood.
“It just had a huge impact on me,” said Hyder.
It’s not much of a surprise that basketball is still very important to Hyder, who was named as the Sun Belt Broadcaster of the Year for the 2009-10 season.
Hyder covers all the sports he can at DU, but his main passion is basketball, and knowing that he grew up watching the great years that IU had, it would be a wonder if it was not.
“The cherry on top for me is men’s basketball radio play-by-play,” said Hyder, who actuallly doesn’t voice DU hockey despite having a great knack for play-by-play coverage.
“Growing up in Indiana, it’s not really a hockey hot bed. I am mainly a basketball guy,” said Hyder.
According to Hyder, it was not such an easy start to his career.
As a sophomore in college he was already working full time at one of the two radio stations that were present in Bloomington’s small market.
After getting out of college, Hyder worked for a radio station called KYBG in Colorado. After a few years, he had a difference of opinion, so he left for a job opportunity in San Antonio, Texas.
Hyder was able to cover the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, but didn’t find the job fulfilling.
“I just hated the job, just hated it. I was there six months and called and got my job at KYBG back,” said Hyder.
Eventually KYBG would turn to a Spanish radio station leaving Hyder out of work for awhile.
After job searching, Hyder took a position at DU broadcasting on the web.
That was 12 years ago.
Since, he has only missed covering one men’s basketball game, showing up for his job even when he is sick.
He attributes his near perfect attendence to his passion for the job, as well as the sport.
As for his opinion on the future of broadcasting, Hyder believes the opportunities have grown slim and the pay has decreased over the years.
“Radio is becoming an ugly business,” said Hyder. “My advice is that it is all about internships. If you do not have real-life experience then you are screwed.”
