For 17 years, Bob Lovell’s voice has helped bring the first reports of high school basketball and football games throughout the state as the host of Network Indiana’s Indiana Sports Talk show. In that time, the show has grown from eight stations in August 1994 — when Lovell helped create the show — to nearly 40 stations statewide in Indiana. Billed as the “Ultimate postgame show,” Indiana Sports Talk is a mainstay for fans who are searching for scores and reaction from coaches around the state.
For his efforts on Indiana Sports Talk, Bob Lovell has been honored as the ISSA Sportscaster of the Year in 1999, received the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Media Award in 2000, the Indiana Football Coaches Association Media Award in 2001, and the Distinguished Media Award from the IHSAA in 2003.
Lovell came to Indiana Sports Talk from a coaching background, which began at his alma mater, Franklin College, where he served four years as head baseball and basketball coach. His 1980 basketball team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. From there, he moved to IUPUI and served as men’s basketball coach for 12 years and athletic director for 10, leading two teams to the NAIA national tournament and the 1990 squad to the Sweet Sixteen. Lovell also was the director of basketball operations at the Horizon League from 1999-2006. He recently wrote a book, “Recruiting Game Changers: Taking Control of Your Recruiting,” a guide for parents and athletes to understand the recruiting process. He is a member of the IUPUI Athletics Hall of Fame.
A graduate of Plainfield High School, Lovell is a graduate of Franklin College and holds a master’s degree from Butler University. He is a part-time instructor in the School of Physical Education at IUPUI..
He and his wife Penny reside in Franklin, and are the parents of one daughter, Stephanie Kleinrichert (Gary) and one grandson, Jackson Lovell Wheeler.