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WPSX-TV brings athletics to center court By Celena E. Kusch
Rene Portland Head Coach   Women’s Basketball Team Honorary Chair   Penn State Public Broadcasting Grand Destiny Campaign Achievements and Honors   USA Today National Coach of the Year   2000 Women’s Basketball Journal National Coach of the Year   2000 IKON/WBCA District 6 Coach of the Year   2000 and 1994 Big Ten Coach of the Year   Second youngest coach to reach 500 career victories (1998)   1997 USA Basketball’s Developmental Coach of the Year   NCAA Tournament play 17 times   2000 Women’s Final Four, Big Ten Championship Coaching Experience   Head Coach, Penn State (1980–present)   1999 U.S. World University Games team (silver)   1997 U.S. Junior National team (gold)   1996 U.S. Junior National team (silver)   1986 U.S. Junior National team   1985 U.S. Olympic Festival West team   Head Coach, University of Colorado (1978–80)   Head Coach, St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia (1976–78) Family   Husband John Portland   Children: Christine (Penn State ’99), John Jr. (Penn State ’01) and Stephen (Penn State ’04)	According to Ted Krichels, assistant vice president for outreach and general manager of Penn State Public Broadcasting, the mission of Penn State Public Broadcasting is deeply tied to the academic mission of the University and to the advancement of Penn State sports.   During the 2000–01 season, WPSX broadcast 11 Penn State sports events and six episodes of the women’s basketball program Center Court with Rene Portland.   “WPSX-TV has been especially active in broadcasting our women’s sports, including basketball and gymnastics,” Krichels said. “At live games, the teamwork in the WPSX-TV truck is unbelievable. It really matches the level of teamwork you see on the court, as well.”   This year, the Penn State Public Broadcasting production team received the Mid-Atlantic Region’s Outstanding Sports Series Emmy for Center Court with Rene Portland. This marks the second Emmy for the women’s basketball television program.   Lady Lions coach Rene Portland considers Center Court one of the highlights of her career.   “The partnership with WPSX has really brought us from the outhouse to the penthouse,” Portland said. “Because of the TV show, the exposure for our women athletes has helped not just Penn State basketball, but women’s sports all around the world.”   Krichels added, “Penn State Public Broadcasting has increased the visibility of Penn State women’s basketball tremendously, and women’s sports will be just the beginning of Penn State sports programming as we increase our broadcast capacity through digital television.”   The University has already started to broadcast events over the Internet by using streaming technologies. This past year, Penn Staters around the world were given Web access to 85 athletic events through the GoPSU sports site. Penn State Public Broadcasting made the conversions to digital for audio Web casts of lacrosse, softball, soccer and many other athletic events. In addition, Penn State Public Broadcasting produced video Web casts of pregame and postgame press conferences with Nittany Lion Football Coach Joe Paterno.   Future plans for sports programming include collaborations with other Big Ten institutions to share coverage of away games. WPSX-TV also hopes to increase broadcasts of gymnastics, wrestling, women’s basketball, volleyball and other events.