Pitt Athletics
Pitt Volleyball Named 2019 Dapper Dan Sportswomen of the Year; Broadcaster Bill Hillgrove Earns Lifetime Achievement
The 2019 Pitt women’s volleyball team has been named Dapper Dan Sportswomen of the Year, while longtime Pitt and Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster Bill Hillgrove will be honored with a lifetime achievement award.
Both awards will be presented at the annual Dapper Dan dinner and auction to be held on Feb. 10 at Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown.
The Panthers won their third consecutive ACC title in 2019, finishing the season with a 30-2 overall record and a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The team was ranked a program-high No. 2 in the nation to end the regular season.
Pitt has made the NCAA Tournament five straight years. Head coach Dan Fisher was recently rewarded with a seven-year contract extension for his team’s performance.
Bill Hillgrove and Dick Groat March 9, 2019 — David Hague/ PSN
Hillgrove has been a fixture in Pitt’s broadcast booth for decades, first broadcasting the men’s basketball team in 1969. He later took over the football broadcasts and also is the lead play-by-play man for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hillgrove was also a longtime sportscaster at WTAE-TV.
It’s the second straight year the awards will be dominated by those associated with Pitt athletics. In 2018, Pitt running back James Conner was sportsman of the year and Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke was sportswoman of the year.
Hillgrove has recently taken some time off for back surgery, but is expected to return for the end of the Pitt basketball season.
Congratulations to both. I only know one announcer for Pitt football as Mr. Hillgrove began announcing my freshman year. Good luck and a speedy recovery.