Katie George is a sports broadcaster that has carved out an unlikely career from two disparate industries: competitive athletics and television broadcasting. Before she was commenting on on-court action at the volleyball net, Katie was once a standout collegiate player for the University of Louisville before transitioning into the world of television. She has worked locally, covered the Milwaukee Bucks and joined the ACC Network at its launch before eventually joining ESPN’s national sports coverage.

Today, Katie covers a variety of sports for the company, ranging from college football to women’s college volleyball to the NBA and Formula1. She has also made appearances for ESPN’s NFL coverage. While not impossible, her career is noteworthy for someone who transitioned from playing sports to talking about them.

Who is Katie George?

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Katie George is an American sports broadcaster and former collegiate volleyball player hailing from Louisville, Kentucky. She would eventually grow to national prominence as a result of her work in the sports media space.

However, her collegiate career at the University of Louisville was already an impressive one. She was a three-time first-team All-American and the 2015 ACC Player of the Year, Setter of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was also named to the First Team All-Conference three times and earned praise as a freshman in the American Athletic Conference in 2013 and a junior year in the ACC in 2015.

George also competed in pageants during her senior year at Louisville and was crowned Miss Kentucky USA in January 2015. She would later compete in Miss USA, finishing in the top 11 and winning the People’s Choice award.

All these experiences would come to serve her in her transition into the world of sports broadcasting.

Early Life and Education

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While many athletes who play college sports grow up around the sport they would come to love, that was not the case for George. The Louisville native attended Assumption High School, where she would discover her love for volleyball.

Her transition into the world of sports broadcasting began while she was still a collegiate player. According to ESPN’s feature on the sports personality, George had already developed an interest in television while playing at Louisville and sought to gain as much experience in the industry as she could. She worked numerous internships and built relationships with local television stations while continuing to play volleyball at the collegiate level.

At Louisville, George studied communications and minored in sports administration. She graduated from the University of Louisville in just three years as a magna cum laude.

With a degree in communications and a sports administration minor, Katie George had the academic qualifications to further her ambitions in the world of sports broadcasting.

Katie George Volleyball Career

George played as the floor leader for the Cardinals, serving as a setter. As a junior, she started every match and served as the team captain. She recorded 1,163 career assists, averaging 10.20 per set while recording 35 aces. She also recorded 14 double-doubles in her junior year.

Her senior year would prove to be an even more illustrious chapter in her collegiate volleyball career.

In 2015, Louisville claimed the ACC volleyball title and George collected three individual conference honors, earning the ACC Player of the Year, Setter of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. She was also named to the First Team All-ACC.

During her college career, Louisville enjoyed tremendous success, claiming conference championships in three different conferences. The Cardinals won a Big East championship, American Athletic Conference championship and eventually the ACC championship.

Her achievements on the court have since defined her broadcasting career, as she has always been able to relate to volleyball players at the highest level.

From Volleyball Player to Broadcaster

After graduating from the University of Louisville in 2015, Katie George began her professional sports broadcasting career.

Her first television job was at WDRB, where she served as a sports anchor and reporter. She provided color commentary for Louisville and Kentucky football, basketball and baseball games, in addition to the Kentucky Derby.

Her professional broadcasting career began in the same city in which her volleyball career was born. However, it did not last long, as George would soon continue to build upon her credentials as a broadcaster.

Her next endeavor was covering professional sports.

For the 2018-19 season, she served as the Milwaukee Bucks’ team sideline reporter. She was a contributor to Fox Sports Wisconsin’s broadcasts of the Bucks, while also aiding the team’s digital and social media content.

The experience was invaluable to her as it allowed her to understand the inner workings of a professional sports team and cover games as a reporter.

Joining the ACC Network

She would soon make the jump to a new venture, joining the ACC Network when it launched in 2019.

As one of the network’s original on-air personalities, she served as a reporter and studio anchor for the ACC Network. It was a homecoming of sorts for George, as Louisville was her alma mater and the school where she began her volleyball career.

It was also where she earned three conference Player of the Year honors and led Louisville to three conference championships, including the 2015 ACC volleyball title.

While her role at the ACC Network did not involve volleyball, it was an opportunity for her to continue to build her credentials in the sports media space.

Katie George and ESPN

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Her credentials in the sports media space continued to grow, allowing her to parlay into an ESPN/ABC job.

According to ESPN’s current bio on George, she is a reporter for ESPN/ABC Saturday college football games, while also providing coverage of women’s college volleyball, the NBA and UFL for the company. She has also done Formula 1 commentary and contributed to the company’s coverage of Premier Lacrosse.

Her job as a college football reporter is also one of the most coveted gigs for any sports broadcaster, as it involves sideline reporting. Broadcasters have to conduct interviews, report from inside the stadium and provide analysis of the game for telecasts that millions of people are watching.

Her experience as a volleyball player has given her a unique insight into the skills and strategies that go into the sport.

Formula 1 and ‘Unlapped’

Her varied skill set has seen her transition into a new motorsports niche.

According to ESPN’s bio, George is an F1 commentator, in addition to being a reporter for college football, basketball, volleyball and other sports.

Her involvement in the coverage of the sport is noteworthy, as it marks an evolution in her sports broadcasting career. Instead of being a volleyball player or a sideline reporter for one particular sport, George has been able to transition into a multi-sport analyst.

NFL and Monday Night Football

She continued to build her credentials as a sideline reporter when ESPN announced that she would be part of the Monday Night Football sideline team for select games. According to ESPN’s 2025 coverage plans, George and Peter Schrager will serve as analysts for five games, alongside Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick.

It was yet another step in the evolution of her sports broadcasting career.

Volleyball Broadcasting

Despite transitioning into the world of football broadcasting, volleyball continues to be George’s true love.

Her skills as a setter have given her a unique insight into the sport, particularly at the college level.

Her return to Louisville also meant that she was covering volleyball games at the same arena in which she played as a member of the Louisville Cardinals.

She continues to have a deep passion for the sport, as evidenced by her current job as a volleyball analyst for ESPN.

Sports Emmy Recognition

One of the most prestigious awards in the sports media space came her way in 2025, when she won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality – Emerging On-Air Talent.

ESPN recognizes the award in the current bio on George, which spotlights her numerous professional achievements.

Miss Kentucky USA and Miss USA

Sports broadcasting is not the only area in which George has excelled.

In 2015, while still a member of the Louisville Cardinals, George entered her first pageant and was named Miss Kentucky USA. She would later compete at Miss USA, finishing in the top 11 and winning the People’s Choice award.

Personal Life

George is married to Paolo DelPiccolo, a former professional soccer player hailing from Italy.

The couple met while still attending college and initially dated long distance after DelPiccolo moved to Germany to pursue his soccer career. The couple’s relationship continued to flourish, with DelPiccolo popping the question to George on a ski trip to Colorado.

The couple tied the knot in January 2022 in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a destination winter wedding. In a twist of fate, their wedding took place in the same city where DelPiccolo had once played professional soccer.

Katie George Career Spotlight

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What makes Katie George’s career so fascinating is the fact that she has had to reinvent herself several times over the course of her career.

She started out as a volleyball player, graduated from the University of Louisville with honors and eventually transitioned into the world of television broadcasting. She covered the Milwaukee Bucks before joining the ACC Network and eventually joined ESPN’s national television sports coverage.

While she has had to acquire numerous new skills as a result of transitioning from athlete to broadcaster, her career as a volleyball player has always stood as a pillar in her broadcasting career.

Conclusion

Katie George is a compelling figure in the sports world, in large part due to her non-linear career path. After playing volleyball at the collegiate level and earning first-team all-conference honors three times, she went on to have a prolific career as a sports broadcaster. Her professional accolades continued to mount as she went from covering the Milwaukee Bucks to joining the ACC Network and eventually ESPN. Her career has come full circle, as she continues to cover volleyball at the collegiate level as an ESPN analyst. Her many accomplishments have paved the way for yet another major milestone in her career, as she has been nominated for a Sports Emmy for her work in the sports media space.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Katie George?

Katie George is an American sports broadcaster and former University of Louisville volleyball player. She currently works across ESPN and ABC, covering college football, volleyball, NBA, and other sports.

2. What sports did Katie George play?

Katie George played volleyball at the University of Louisville, primarily as a setter. She was a three-time first-team All-American and the 2015 ACC Player of the Year, Setter of the Year, and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

3. When did Katie George join ESPN?

Katie George joined the ACC Network when it launched in 2019 and later became part of ESPN’s national sports coverage. ESPN’s current biography identifies her as an ESPN/ABC reporter and volleyball analyst.

4. What is Katie George known for at Louisville?

Katie George is known for her successful volleyball career at the University of Louisville. In 2015, she was named ACC Player of the Year, Setter of the Year, and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

5. Did Katie George win Miss Kentucky USA?

Yes. Katie George was crowned Miss Kentucky USA in 2015 while she was still a Louisville volleyball player. She later competed in Miss USA, where she finished in the top 11.

6. Who is Katie George’s husband?

Katie George is married to Paolo DelPiccolo, a former professional soccer player.

7. When did Katie George get married?

Katie George and Paolo DelPiccolo married in January 2022 in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a destination winter wedding.

8. Has Katie George covered the NFL?

Yes. Katie George has covered the NFL, including serving as part of ESPN’s Monday Night Football sideline team for select games.

9. Has Katie George won a Sports Emmy?

Yes. Katie George received a 2025 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality – Emerging On-Air Talent. ESPN’s biography highlights the award as part of her broadcasting career.

10. What does Katie George do at ESPN now?

Katie George’s current ESPN work includes reporting on ESPN/ABC Saturday college football games and contributing to women’s college volleyball, NBA, and UFL coverage. ESPN also identifies her as an F1 commentator.