Brian Barnhart

I grew up in Champaign County just west of Tolono and graduated from Unity High School in 1982.

After attending Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia, and working at 2 different stations on campus, I started my broadcast career doing minor league baseball in central Virginia. I did play-by-play for the Lynchburg Mets and Salem Buccaneers before moving on to Oklahoma City as the announcer for the Triple A affiliate of the Texas Rangers from 1988 until 1994. I also did play -by -play for high school football and college basketball while living in Oklahoma. I met my wife Jennifer in Oklahoma and we had our first daughter Lauren in July of 1997.

In 1998 I was able to accomplish a goal I set back in college...Become a major league baseball announcer! I was hired by the Anaheim Angels in 1998 and did play-by-play there during the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

In February 2000 our second daughter Michelle was born in California and after a job offer in Montreal, Canada fell through, I moved back home to Illinois and was hired by WDWS/WHMS where I began helping out on the Illini Sports Network broadcasts. When Jim Turpin retired as the longtime "Voice of the Illini", I was named as his replacement in the fall of 2002 and have been handling the football and basketball broadcasts since then.

Of all the things I have done in my career...working at Newstalk 1400 and Lite Rock 97.5 has been the most satisfying part of my career... I get to work in a good environment with great people and get to cover the team I love the most...the Fighting Illini!!

My wife Jennifer and I have been married for 15 years now...and my girls are growing so fast! Lauren is now 8 years old...Michelle is 6 ...and both are attending Robeson School in Champaign.

Thanks again for listening to our wonderful stations and keep cheering for the Illini!

Brian