Bill Hillgrove

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bill Hillgrove is an American sports journalist, radio personality, and sports broadcaster. He is currently the lead play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Steelers radio broadcasting network and for the Pitt Panthers football and basketball teams.

Born William Thomas Hillgrove in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood, he grew up in nearby Garfield. He attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. He worked as a student sports broadcaster for Duquesne basketball games while in college. He graduated from Duquesne in 1962 with a degree in journalism.

His first job was as a disk jockey with WKJF (now K-Rock 94). He later worked as a DJ for WTAE-AM. In 1969 he was hired as a road game broadcaster for the Pitt Panthers basketball team. The following year, he became the regular color announcer for play-by-play man Ed Conway. Following Conway's death in 1974, he assumed the play-by-play announcer duties.

Hillgrove was named the sports director for WTAE-TV in 1978 and acted as sports anchor for WTAE News. In 1994, he was handpicked by Steeler owner Dan Rooney to replace the retiring Jack Flemming as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After working for many years alongside famous color broadcaster Myron Cope, his Steeler broadcast partners now include former Steelers players Tunch Ilkin (color) and Craig Wolfley (sideline). He also continues to broadcast Pitt football and basketball games. Former Pittsburgh Pirate Dick Groat serves as Hillgrove's broadcast partner for basketball and former Heisman Trophy candidate Bill Fralic is his partner for football games.

Hillgrove's drink of choice is Sambuca, while his partner Dick Groat prefers Budweiser.