Maybe it was due to the fun he had making play-by-play recordings of imaginary games on cassette tapes from his bedroom growing up. Or maybe it was learning from watching New York Mets television broadcasts on WOR-TV. Or, quite possibly, it was the public-address work he did for Southwestern sporting events and his role on the school's debate team.
"I did anything I could think of to do, and it has paid off," he said.
In a big, big way.
In 2015 Hoard was named Ohio Sportscaster of the Year by a group of his peers. He received the award in June from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association & Hall of Fame.
"Really, I was very surprised," he said. "I received word by phone call. I had learned that I had been nominated for the award and that, in and of itself, was a big surprise. I didn't think there was a chance at all that I'd win."
But being included among the Mount Rushmore of Ohio's announcers is only part of Hoard's lengthy resume.
Following are a few additional highlights:
- Hired as a minor league baseball announcer for the Syracuse Chiefs a month before he graduated from Syracuse University, Hoard spent several years in radio as the sports director at WSYR-AM, before getting into TV at WTVH-5, the CBS affiliate in Syracuse. The person most responsible for his hiring was Mike Tirico of ESPN fame, who was one of Hoard's Syracuse classmates.
- Formerly the radio play-by-play voice of the Pawtucket Red Sox (the Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox), Hoard has served for years as the radio play-by-play man for both the football and men's basketball teams at the University of Cincinnati.
- Has worked many Major League Baseball games, including filling in for legendary Cincinnati Reds announcer Marty Brennaman.
- And is in the midst of his fifth season as the radio play-by-play voice for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League.
"I admired the broadcasters growing up as much as the athletes," said Hoard, who named former Buffalo Bills broadcaster and Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee Van Miller as one of his favorites
Hoard, who used to commute between Pawtucket and Cincinnati, is now settled permanently in Cincinnati with his wife, Peg Rusconi, and their son, Sam.
"When I was doing Pawtucket and University of Cincinnati games, I was on the road 200 days a year for the first five years of my son's life. (The move to Cincinnati full time) has worked out great for my family, and professionally it's been tremendous."
Given all those credentials, Hoard, the son of Larry Hoard of Jamestown and Diane Bailey of Chautauqua, didn't hesitate when asked about his most memorable moment in 30 years of broadcasting.
Here's the story: Hoard and his color analyst, Chuck Machock, were working the 2003 NCAA men's basketball tournament first-round game between Cincinnati and Gonzaga.
"Bob Huggins (the Bearcats' coach at the time) got kicked out and the official that ejected him happened to come right over to where we were broadcasting the game to put the ball back in play," Hoard said. "My partner was so incensed that Huggins had been ejected that he stood up on press row and began yelling at the official.
"The official turned to him and said, 'Buddy, keep it up and I'm going to kick you out, too.' That was all Chuck needed to hear and he stood up and began riding the official as I was trying to pull him back in his seat.
"At the next dead ball, I see security walking and pointing in our direction."
Before Hoard and Machock knew it, the security guards told Machock that he had to leave.
"Buddy," Hoard remembered the security guards saying, "the NCAA wants you out of here."
Hoard worked the final 16 minutes, 43 seconds alone.
"To this day, when I sign off a University of Cincinnati basketball broadcast, the last thing I say is: 'For my partner, Chuck Machock, who tonight extended his consecutive game streak without being ejected to (fill in the blank), I'm Dan Hoard.'"
At last report, Machock's ejection-less streak stands at well over 200.
"Chuck is the best," Hoard said. "He's a tremendously funny person, in general. He takes it as well as he gives it."
Maybe that's why the pair get along so well and, maybe, just maybe, Hoard is describing himself.
"It's nice when reality exceeds your dreams," he said.
