Meet the 2019 Award Winners: Kentucky Sportscaster Tom Leach

Today’s award spotlight is on NSMA 2019 Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year, Tom Leach. The voice of the University of Kentucky’s Wildcats, Leach has called the team’s games for countless seasons and is now the Play-by-play announcer and host of the UK daily radio show, "The Leach Report." Graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1983, Leach began his career on the UK Radio Network in 1989, hosting postgame scoreboards and call-in shows before becoming the school’s football play-by-play voice eight years later. He’s gone on to work four Final Fours and 11 bowl games with the Wildcats. Leach has also worked for Westwood One/NBC Sports national radio broadcasts of the Triple Crown races as a reporter since 2016.

This will be Leach’s sixth time winning Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year, his first win being in 1997. He’s also a two-time recipient of the Eclipse Award for his work.

Leach briefly spoke with NSMA on his career and other thoughts regarding the industry.

NSMA: What was your career path like on the way to your current position?

Tom Leach: Started working at age 16 for my hometown station in Paris, KY, doing everything from HS play-by-play to DJ to news. First full-time job out of college in 1983 was in a similar role at WMST in Mt. Sterling. Moved to WVLK (flagship for the UK Sports Network) in Lexington the following year.

NSMA: What is your favorite thing about your job?

TL: Doing 2-3 hours of unscripted description of what I'm seeing in a way that makes sense to an audience.

NSMA: What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

TL: Calling the University of Kentucky's win in 2012 college basketball national title game.

NSMA: What is the best piece of advice you have for people pursuing a career in sports media?

TL: Make sure this is your passion and not just a job. The hours are never normal and the pay may often be well below what it should be so the passion is what will make it all worthwhile.

Written by NSMA intern, Brian Cohen