By Doug Zaleski—
MUNCIE, IN—Muncie, Delaware County and Ball State University have produced numerous standout players and coaches for many decades. That rich tradition in sports is being put in the spotlight in a new podcast produced by a familiar name.
Doug Zaleski, who covered the local sports scene at the Muncie Evening Press and the Muncie Star Press for 26 years, and hosted a local radio sports talk show on WXFN 1340 for three years, this week launched a new project to bring those special people back into the local conversation.
Muncie Sports Spotlight made its debut this week as Zaleski interviewed former Wes-Del and Muncie Southside basketball coach John Robbins. He retired from coaching after leading the Rebels to a runner-up finish in a semistate at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the 1988-89 season.
“Many of the star athletes and coaches from the past 30-40 years have fallen off the front page, so to speak,” Zaleski said. “A lot of them have left the coaching profession or ended their athletic careers. My goal is to put them in the spotlight again in an interview format to discus their careers in their respective sports.”
The podcast will be available every Monday on four platforms: YouTube.com, Spotify, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook accounts of Doug Zaleski and Muncie Sports Spotlight.
The next podcast will drop on March 2 with former Royerton High School standout and Miami (Ohio) player and coach Jerry Peirson. The immediate lineup after that includes former Wapahani and Delta basketball coach Paul Keller on March 9, former Ball State star basketball player Paris McCurdy on March 16, and former Muncie Central and Ball State basketball legend Chandler Thompson on March 23.
“This area has produced so many legendary people in the sports world who starred in high school, college, professional sports and Olympic competition,” Zaleski said. “I want to bring their successes and exploits back to life.”
The podcast was made possible by the generous support of Ruoff Mortgage in Muncie, Pizza King, Walls Furniture and Mattress, OGG Auto Glass, Barnett Garage Doors, Clancy’s Car Wash and Albany Golf Club.
Listeners will have an opportunity to receive free pizzas from Pizza King, $25 gift cards from Clancy’s, free rounds of golf at Albany Golf Club and a discount on work done by Barnett Garage Doors.
