We were lucky to catch up with Stacy Paetz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Stacy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
I have the honor of interviewing athletes and coaches at all levels. I’ve spent my entire career on national television on a platform that allows me to tell amazing stories about wonderful people. I take my work very seriously because it’s about the families of the athletes I speak about. I have received letters, emails and cards from families and athletes who’ve been happy with the ways I’ve told their stories, and how I made them feel during interviews. To me, these are the most precious examples because this work is part of my purpose.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Stacy Paetz is an award-winning sports journalist and television host who has made her mark in the industry with her groundbreaking achievements. She began her career at age 19 and continued to make history when she became the youngest person and first female to fill the role of sideline reporter and host for every NBA pre-game, halftime and post-game show for seven seasons on Fox Sports. Stacy was the first female announcer in the 90-year history of the Harlem Globetrotters, joining them on national and international tours. She’s worked for multiple sports networks; ESPN, TNT, FOX, CBS and NBA TV, hosting and reporting on a variety of sports including the NFL, Auto Racing, MLR Draft and the Olympics. She hosted Softball at the 2022 World Games and is the first ever host of the National Women’s Soccer League on Amazon Prime Video. Stacy is currently Host and Producer of Major League Rugby All Access on FOX, the league’s flagship show.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
There’s no such thing as the perfect, error free game. As a perfectionist, this is tough to reconcile. I’ve been my harshest critic and have wanted to be perfect most of my career. I’ve lost sleep reliving games and beating myself up for not presenting perfectly. This was a blessing to unlearn because it’s liberating. I know the information, I’ve done the research. I treat my reporting and hosting as a conversation. I want to be entertaining and informational while doing good work. This approach also allows me to relax and have fun doing what I love, rather than being trapped trying to achieve perfection.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’m born and bred in Indiana. I never imagined relocating because I was able to work for networks that travelled me all over the world. I was working with the Indiana Pacers as Television Host and Sideline Reporter for Fox Sports. I loved the work so much, I thought I would end up retiring from that organization after 15-20 years.. It was a blessing to have that position for seven seasons and when my contract came to and end, there was a shift and I moved to Los Angeles. It was an unexpected pivot to move across the country and it was exactly what I needed. This move had some uncertainty and plenty of excitement baked in. I’ve continued my television sports career, and I’ve created important projects that have gained traction in Los Angeles that may not have come to fruition as quickly in my home state.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stacypaetz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacypaetz/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacypaetz
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/stacypaetz?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stacypaetz