Chet Coppock

Chet Coppock is an American radio broadcaster, television broadcaster, sports talk personality and author based in Chicago. Coppock made appearances for the Chicago Blackhawks, hosting events with Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito and Denis Savard. He is the radio host of Notre Dame football pregame and postgame on WLS Radio and a very occasional contributor to the Rant and Rave segment on FOX 32 Chicago (WFLD) with Lou Canellis. In 2013, Coppock – aka. "The Godfather of Sports Talk Radio" – was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and honored with the "Jack Brickhouse Lifetime Achievement Award". His second book, "Laying it On the Line" was published in August 2014 and his third book profiling the life of Bears great Doug Buffone is scheduled to be released in 2015.^[1] As a taxi enthusiast, Coppock is currently a spokesperson for American Taxi.

Biography

Radio and TV Broadcasting career

• In 1966, at age 17, Coppock broadcast football and basketball on WNTH radio, the school radio station at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL.
• Coppock is recognized as one of the notable alumni to graduate from New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL.^[2]

1970s

• In 1970–1971, Coppock was hired to produce the Milwaukee Bucks radio network. The Bucks, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, captured an NBA title with a victory over Baltimore on Coppock's 22nd birthday – April 30, 1971.
• Coppock hosted Sport Rap, a nightly Chicago TV talk show on WSNS TV, before eventually becoming a staff announcer with WFLD TV in Chicago. While at WFLD, Coppock developed a friendship with promoter Gerry Seltzer. The association soon led Coppock into a role as the national TV voice of the Roller Derby, a position he occupied for several years.
• In the mid-1970s, Coppock held a six-year tenure as sports director at then CBS-affiliate WISH-TV (now a CW affiliate) in Indianapolis. His anchor desk partners included Jane Pauley.

1980s

• In 1981, Coppock returned to Chicago and joined WMAQ-TV for three years. In 1981, he was awarded a UPI Award in the category of Illinois Broadcasting and Best Sports.
• In 1984, while working as sports director at WMAQ radio, Coppock approached the station about creating an in-depth, interview-driven radio sports talk show. The move led to the creation of Coppock on Sports, a show in which Coppock spoke with athletes, coaches, GMs and media members in a longer, un-cut magazine format. The show's success spawned numerous imitators.
• In 1986, Coppock served as ring announcer during the Chicago portion of WrestleMania 2.^[3] Coppock's other appearances for the World Wrestling Federation include his role as commentator alongside Gorilla Monsoon for RadioWWF at WrestleMania X,^[4] and guest host of a special fashion show during WrestleMania 13 weekend. He also promoted wrestling events featuring such competitors as Verne Gagne, Baron von Raschke, and Dick the Bruiser. Some of these shows were held at Chicago's Comiskey Park.^[5]
• In 1986, October 30, Chet Coppock was suspended by NBC-owned WMAQ Radio in Chicago for two days for his repeated sexual harassment of a female colleague at the radio station. Incidents fully documented, NBC Chicago/NY.
• In 1987, Coppock was hired by the Chicago Sting Major Indoor Soccer League team to be their 1987–88 television announcer. His commentary partner was former Sting player Mark Simanton. Following that season, the Sting suspended operations in April 1988.
• In 1988, Coppock moved to WLUP in Chicago to continue Coppock on Sports and also host the pre-game, half-time and post-game shows for the Chicago Bulls radio network. In 1991, Coppock was on hand for another NBA championship moment when the Bulls and Michael Jordan captured their first of six NBA titles.

1990s

• In the 1990s, Chet hosted Back Table, a popular interview show that was carried by SportsChannel/Fox Sports Net.
• Coppock also co-hosted The Mike Ditka Radio Show as well as talk shows featuring NBA coaches Phil Jackson and Doug Collins.
• In 1990–91 Coppock's seven-day work schedule also found him serving as the studio host for the NBA radio network.
• In 1992, Coppock received a Chicago/Midwest Area Emmy Award for his work on Chicago Bears Weekly.
• In 1994, Coppock hosted NewSportTalk on Cablevision in New York.
• In 1994, Coppock is of sixty Chicago notables featured in the book Great Chicago Stories: Portraits and Stories by Sam Landers.^[6]
• In the late 90s, Coppock was heard on Fox Sports Net Chicago.
• In the late 90s, Coppock was heard on WMAQ 670 AM Chicago.
• In 1999, Coppock received the Peter Lisagor Award for Journalistic Excellence.

2000s

• From August 2000 to February 2006, Coppock on Sports made a return to the airwaves on Sporting News Radio.
• Since 2006, Coppock has hosted Notre Dame football and basketball on WLS Radio.^[7]
• In 2009, Coppock launched the "Coppock On Sports" podcast, featured in the podcast section of Apple's iTunes store. The podcast features regular appearances from ESPN Legal Analyst Lester Munson, and former MLB 31-game winner Denny McClain.^[8]
• In 2009, Coppock penned the "Coppock On Sports" blog, covering Chicago sports for www.ChicagoNow.com.^[9]

• In 2009, Coppock released his first book titled, "Fat Guys Shouldn't be Dancin' at Halftime." Published by Triumph Books.^[10]

2010s

• Coppock hosted The Winning Edge on the Discovery Channel.
• In 2011, Coppock appeared as a featured content contributor for the Heritage Series on the Chicago Blackhawks website,^[11] and continues to occasionally emcee Blackhawks events.
• In 2011, Coppock launched DailyCoppock.com with business partner Michael Romano.^[12] DailyCoppock.com features Coppock's video blogs, Coppock's magazine-style video interviews with sports headliners, and Coppock's written blogs on sports and culture.
• In 2013, Coppock was named the recipient of the "Jack Brickhouse Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame.^[13]
• Coppock becames an occasional contributor to the "Rant and Rave" segment on FOX 32 Chicago (WFLD) with anchor Lou Canellis.
• As part of his work with the Blackhawks' Heritage Series, Coppock makes frequent appearances with Hawks legends Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito and Denis Savard.
• In 2014, Coppock released his second book titled, "Chet Coppock: Laying it on the Line"^[14]
• Coppock performed with Taj Gbison of the Chicago Bulls on series of auto dealer spots^[15]
• In 2015, Coppock's third book, "Buffone" – the life story of legendary Chicago Bears linebacker Doug Buffone – is scheduled for release.

Movie career

• In 2007, Coppock served as a football consultant and had an on camera role in the motion picture "The Express" starring Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown.^[16] The film was released in October 2008.

Community involvement

• Coppock has served as Chairman of Indiana Easter Seals and March of Dimes campaigns.
• Coppock has served as the Illinois chairman of the Smiles for Little City campaign.
• Coppock has worked with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Special Olympics.
• Scholarships have been given in Coppock's name by the Better Boys' Foundation.
• Coppock has been a strong supporter of the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago and has emceed numerous banquets and charity events for the organization since 1982.

Commercial work

Coppock has done commercial work for numerous clients including McDonald's, Wheaties, Chevrolet, Lover's Lane and P.F. Chang's China Bistro.

Chicagosportswebio.com

Coppock joined Chicagosportswebio.com as afternoon drive-time host with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. The website, an Internet radio station, was run in some collective fashion by convicted felon David Hernandez, former Chicago radio personality Mike North, North's wife Beatrice "Bebe" (who served as Chief Operating Officer), Jeff "Spaceball" Schwartz, and former Chicago fire commissioner Cortez Trotter. The enterprise collapsed after two months on the air, as the Securities and Exchange Commission went after Hernandez for allegedly running a ponzi scheme [see the Chicago Tribune, Crain's Chicago Business, score670.com, chicagolandradioandmedia.com].

News

On February 14, 2007, Coppock was attacked in the parking lot following a DePaul University basketball game in Rosemont, Illinois.^[17][18] Jaime A. Waldron of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was found guilty of battery after pleading not guilty. Waldron was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and ordered to pay court costs.^[19]

References

External links

• http://www.chetcoppock.com