‘This is the moment that sets everything else in motion’

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Award-winning sports journalist and broadcaster Pat Doney has covered sports’ largest stages — including the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby, the World Series and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Doney, a Purdue Global alumnus (MS higher education ’24) who served as the October commencement speaker, celebrated with graduates as they crossed the stage, sharing the message that they are just getting started.

“You’ve done something extraordinary. You pushed through. You sacrificed. You kept going when it would’ve been easier to quit,” Doney said during his speech. “Whether it took you two years or 20, you made it. But this is not the summit. It’s not the finish line. This is the moment that sets everything else in motion.”

Bitten by the sports bug

A Southern California native, Doney became active in sports at a young age. His father was a high school principal, and his mom was a teacher. He worked high school sporting events as a ball boy and water boy, and he also helped with equipment.

At 17, he shadowed a broadcaster for Major League Baseball’s Angels and watched the crew produce the game.

“It was a life-changing experience to see someone go to baseball games as a career,” Doney said. “I said, ‘I don’t care what it takes. I’m doing everything I can to do this. I’m going to find a way to make this what I do for my job someday.’”

Attending college in Virginia, Doney tracked down every sports media opportunity on campus, working home football games, hosting sports talk shows, calling games on the radio and writing for the school newspaper. Those opportunities led to a sports reporting internship at Los Angeles’ KABC-TV, covering the Angels and Dodgers.

Longtime mentors including Curt Sandoval, KABC’s sports anchor, and Dennis Carter, WSET-TV’s sports director, taught him how to conduct better interviews and capture the best video and stories, all of which have helped him move to larger stations, develop community outreach activities and earn a Purdue Global master’s degree.

Balancing family and work

Doney and his wife, Sheleena, met in college and married after graduation. Sheleena is the foundation of their home, keeping track of him; their daughter, Barlow (12), and son, Hudson (10); as well as all their activities at church, Barlow’s cheerleading and music events, and Hudson’s baseball games.

The family adopted Hudson in August 2015. Later he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

“He is the most inspirational 10-year-old you will ever meet in your life. He’s in a regular fourth grade class with an aide,” Doney said. “He’s been a huge inspiration for his classmates who might not be used to being with a student with a disability. It quickly becomes an educational experience for them, too, as they become fast friends with Hudson.”

In addition to working at KXAS-TV (NBC 5 — Dallas-Fort Worth), Doney launched a sportscasting camp for high school students in 2023. He found teaching and working with teens energizing.

Newy Scruggs, KXAS’ sports director, who earned his master’s degree in 2023, encouraged Doney to pursue a master’s degree.

Doney discovered that his employer, NBCUniversal, partners with EdAssist, an education benefit manager for companies. Purdue Global is an EdAssist education provider.

Purdue Global’s flexibility intrigued him, especially with his nonstop schedule at work and family responsibilities. After consulting with Sheleena, he enrolled in the Master of Science in higher education program.

Heading back to school

Going back to school was both an eye-opening and life-changing experience.

“It was a bit of a challenge to get back into student mode. The professors were so supportive. I quickly realized that I could do this,” he said.

His sportscasting camp benefited from his degree. For a Purdue Global class project, he developed a sports media course and curriculum, Inside Sports Media, that is now being used in high schools throughout the country.

Another highlight came while he was covering the Texas Rangers in the 2023 World Series. He would work on his coursework from the hotel. But when they won, it was a different type of celebration for him.

“The Rangers are spraying champagne and celebrating, and I’m running back to my hotel to get an assignment done,” he said.

Using tools to help others’ comebacks

Doney was excited and honored to be the commencement speaker.

“I’m so grateful for Purdue Global’s assistance, and the professors and the advisors who helped make it happen,” he said. “It’s a dream-come-true experience and a once-in-a-lifetime experience as well.”

Doney is grateful to his colleagues and managers at NBCUniversal and NBC Dallas-Fort Worth for supporting him through the master’s program and participating in the ceremony.

Doney wants the graduates to know there’s more to their journey.

“You didn’t just earn a degree; you’ve earned tools, and you’ve developed grit. Now comes the real moment: What will you build with those tools? Not just for yourselves, but for the people you’ll impact — your communities, the people you serve and future generations who will benefit from what you create,” he said.

For him, the tools Purdue Global gave him have helped his work with students become easier.

“I was not prepared to work with high school students before this program. The camp was a success in year one before I had taken these classes and earned this master’s degree,” Doney said. “But after learning some of the things that I did at Purdue Global, it became a lot easier to now understand how to better communicate and make sure that my lesson plans are set and ready to go. This helped me take my program to the next level.”

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.