College basketball fans will see a familiar face on Fox Sports this season. Ex-ESPNer Andy Katz will make "select appearances" on Fox college basketball coverage, a Fox spokeswoman confirmed to Sporting News.
Katz will chip in on Fox's college hoops coverage as part of his role as a contributor to Big Ten Network (Fox owns 51 percent of BTN). Katz started contributing to BTN last season.
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Katz's upcoming television work for Fox will not impact his main job as a correspondent for NCAA.com, sources said. It's regarded as a side gig.
My 15th overall half marathon today @NewportMarathon is the perfect way to tip-off my @marchmadness marathon to the @FinalFour , which begins Thursday with @bigten media day on @BigTenNetwork . pic.twitter.com/mH4cpwTP8z
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) October 7, 2018
Katz is viewed inside the business as a multimedia talent who can report, anchor and host podcasts.
He was on the court interviewing coach Jay Wright for NCAA.com this April, after Villanova rolled over Michigan to win its second men's national title in the past three seasons.
Fox has been expanding its coverage of college basketball.
The network carries the Big East's full men's basketball schedule, plus select games from the Big Ten and Pac 12 conferences.
On Jan. 27, for example, Fox will televise the return of two Big East legends, as coach Chris Mullin and St. John's take on Patrick Ewing and Georgetown.
Katz was among the most surprising victims of the 100 on-air personalities and reporters laid off by ESPN in April 2017.
During his 18 years at ESPN, he emerged as a respected national college basketball voice.
He became well-known for his multiple "March Madness" bracket selections with former U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House.
When he learned about his layoff, Katz tweeted a note partly reading, "New options will arise."
Now he has some.
