What does it take to become “the voice” of a school and its athletic teams? For some, it means leaving their comfort zone, developing an alter ego. For Dana Starkey, it’s simpler than that.
Just be himself.
An accounting teacher by trade, Starkey is, in the words of friend and Normal Community High School colleague Dave Witzig, “a detail guy.”
“He doesn’t like to leave things unturned,” Witzig said.
That serves Starkey well as the public address announcer at Normal Community home football and boys basketball games. In his 20th season for both, he is a stickler for getting things right … for his beloved home team, certainly, but also the visitors.
The same applies to Starkey’s new role this fall as the Hancock Stadium P.A. man for Illinois State football.
“I always want to check pronunciations so I can be as close as possible … you never know who’s listening and you want to make it a great experience,” Starkey said. “Having your name mispronounced is not a great experience.
“I like the schedule of it all. It’s me to a T. I’m detailed. I have fun with it and I like to be excited about it, but I want to fit it in its box and be professional about it as well.”
That professionalism caught the eye – or rather, ear – of Illinois State in August when the Redbirds were in need of a football public address announcer.
Starkey received an email Aug. 23 from Megan MacLeod, ISU’s senior associate athletic director for brand advancement. She asked if Starkey would be interested in coming in and reading for the job. He did so and learned about the logistics of the role.
“They said, ‘Hey, let’s give it a try,’” Starkey said. “I’ve done three games now and it’s a lot of fun. I hopefully get a little better every game. I’m learning a lot. High school football announcing is very different from college football, but it’s really been fun.”
Starkey has found the college experience to be more scripted than the high school level, with MacLeod directing a detailed game-day production. He credits her for making him feel at ease and guiding him.
Next up? ISU’s noon game Saturday against Missouri State.
Starkey, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois State, talked with his wife, Jenny, in recent years about how fun it would be to announce Redbird games at CEFCU Arena or Hancock Stadium.
“But I never really had it in the forefront of my mind that it would actually happen,” Starkey said.
When the opportunity arose, he met with Normal Community athletic director Nic Kearfott. Starkey’s first allegiance is to NCHS, his alma mater (class of 1990). He wanted to be sure Kearfott was OK with him pursuing the ISU position.
“I said, ‘Go after it. Go explore the option,’” Kearfott said. “It’s pretty cool that he’s been able to do that.”
“With his blessing, I’m all in,” Starkey said. “I was pleased to receive it. I’ve always loved the Redbirds.”
He was an ISU fan before becoming a student there. Starkey is a lifelong Bloomington-Normal resident. He grew up rooting for his beloved Ironmen, but also the Titans of Illinois Wesleyan, where he received an accounting degree, and Illinois State, where he secured a bachelor’s in business education and a master’s in educational administration.
He proudly calls himself “Mr. Bloomington-Normal.” The 52-year-old has spent 42 years in Unit 5 as a student, teacher, business department chair, announcer, you name it.
He met his wife here and they raised their family – daughters Katie and Natalie and son Brady – in Bloomington-Normal.
“I love this town,” Starkey said. “I am probably the poster board for how great Bloomington-Normal is and why you can have a wonderful life here.”
Starkey also qualifies as “the voice of the Ironmen,” says Witzig, NCHS’ boys head basketball coach. Starkey and Witzig were hired as new teachers at Normal Community 30 years ago. For the first two years, Witzig was the boys freshman basketball coach and Starkey his assistant.
They were on the road most Friday nights scouting future varsity opponents for then-Normal Community head coach Ron Rose. A friendship formed quickly.
Witzig called Starkey “a big fan of the students and all the sports teams” at NCHS.
“People recognize his voice and he’s always done an incredible job,” Witzig said. “He’s one of those unsung heroes at a school who does a lot behind the scenes and does a lot for kids and doesn’t always get the recognition because he’s not a coach. But he’s done an unbelievable job here.”
Kearfott agreed, saying Starkey has spent “a ton of nights away from his family and personal life” to support NCHS athletics.
“Thankfully, his family is understanding of the fact he has a passion for announcing and being on the mic,” Kearfott said. “They’ve worked with him to allow him to do it.”
Starkey appreciates that, saying his wife, a teacher at Unit 5’s Kingsley Junior High, has been “wonderful” and loves sports as much as he does.
Starkey plans to retire from teaching in four years. He will continue as NCHS’ announcer until then and perhaps beyond.
He loves being “part of the action” at Ironmen events and, now, Redbird football games.
“I don’t have any professional training as an announcer, but I’ve just kind of learned over the years how to do things,” Starkey said. “So far, I think it’s gone well at ISU and I’m excited about the prospect of continuing to do this, hopefully this year and maybe even in the years ahead.
“I hope that ISU and the fans think I’m doing a good job because this is something I’d like to do indefinitely, even after leaving Unit 5 and retiring from NCHS.”
His approach? Simple.
Just be himself.
