JTC 26: From the Sidelines to the Spotlight

For Keiran Lencheski, sports have always been more than a game; they’ve been a lifelong passion that turned into purpose. 

“I’ve always wanted to be in sports, be involved in sports,” the native of Center Valley, Pennsylvania, said. “I’ve always wanted to go into sports broadcasting. I just have had this passion since I was a kid.” 

That passion led Lencheski, a University of Mississippi journalism graduate who completed her degree in December 2025, to opportunities many young broadcasters only dream of, including working behind the scenes on NBC Sports' Olympic coverage. 

After graduating, Lencheski decided to pursue a master’s degree in journalism at Ole Miss, where she is continuing to build on a foundation shaped by hands-on experience, determination and a willingness to chase every opportunity. 

“One of the things about working in sports is you have to be your own gas,” she said. “You have to look for your own internships just kind of delve into every single website.” 

Her persistence paid off when she landed a production assistant role with NBC Sports, working on coverage connected to the Winter Olympics, a full-circle moment that was years in the making. 

“There’s actually a video of me when I was a kid, holding a little ESPN toy microphone, announcing the Winter Olympics to my family,” Lencheski said. “So, it is a total full circle moment.” 

At NBC Sports headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, Lencheski worked in the central videotape division, helping manage incoming feeds, edit footage and ensure broadcasts reached audiences around the world. 

“It was really intimidating at first, coming from college right into the work world, and the largest sporting event in the world,” she said. “But it was amazing. It was a very rewarding experience. I loved every single second of it.” 

The experience came with its challenges, including overnight shifts and long hours, but Lencheski embraced every moment. 

“The hours are definitely the hardest part, but I would do it all over again in a second,” she said. 

Lencheski stood out from the start, said Ryan Burke, senior producer at NBC Sports. 

“Kiki’s name was one of the ones that definitely jumped off the page, with everything that she’s done and her sports background,” Burke said. “The fact that she was able to get this experience as a student was invaluable, and we were happy to have her.” 

The Ole Miss graduate quickly adapted to the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of Olympic production, he said. 

“I was really impressed by just how she was able to figure it out very quickly,” Burke said. “By day two or three, it felt like she’d been in the building already three or four months.” 

While her Olympic experience marked a major milestone, Lencheski credits Ole Miss for preparing her to succeed at that level. She found her footing early through NewsWatch Ole Miss, where she began developing her on-camera presence and storytelling skills. 

“NewsWatch definitely helped me get my foot in the door and helped me get started,” she said. 

Lencheski also broke new ground as the program’s first female sports reporter, a role she says makes it especially meaningful to see others follow in her footsteps. 

“I was very fortunate I was the first female sports reporter there, and to see all the younger women come through now … it’s really rewarding,” she said. 

Mentorship also played a key role in her journey, particularly through faculty and industry professionals who pushed her to grow, including David Kellum. 

“He took me under his wing and showed me the ropes,” Lencheski said of her mentor. “You have to do the work and that’s what I love about him.” 

Lencheski’s drive stood out from the very beginning, said Kellum, special assistant to the athletics director for public relations at the Ole Miss Department of Athletics and the play-by-play voice of Rebel football. 

“My first interaction with her was as a true freshman, doing a basketball game," Kellum said. "She came over and stood behind us until we were done, like 30 minutes after the post-game show, to introduce herself. She said she was trying to meet as many people as she could.  

“I thought that was incredible initiative as a freshman. She was nervous, but I was super impressed and continued to invest in her as a student and her career.” 

Kellum said that initiative quickly turned into opportunity. 

“We eventually hired her to be a Grove Reporter, and she would go to tents and interview people as a segment in the pregame show,” he said. “She was fantastic. She took it and ran with it.” 

He added that her personality and determination set her apart. 

“She’s been a lot of fun to be around," Kellum said. "She has a great personality, and my favorite memory will be her dynamic personality. She has the intent to be successful.  

"She has turned her life into something positive, and I can’t wait to see what her career ends up being.” 

From day one, Lencheski said Ole Miss stood out as a place where she could grow, both professionally and personally. 

“I wanted to not be a number but I wanted to be a person,” she said. “Ole Miss has welcomed me with open arms it really was the best four years of my life.” 

The school’s emphasis on hands-on learning, access and community helped shape her confidence and skill set, from reporting and editing to producing complete broadcast packages. 

“Every little bit has helped me to where I’m at today,” she said. 

Looking ahead, Lencheski remains focused on using sports as a way to bring people together through storytelling. 

“I truly believe that everybody has a story,” she said. “And if there’s a way to share the athlete’s story that could someday connect with somebody else’s story… that’s really where the heart is at.” 

Top: Keiran Lencheski, a journalism graduate and master's student from Center Valley, Pennsylvania, turned a lifelong passion for sports broadcasting into a production assistant role with NBC Sports' Olympic coverage after becoming NewsWatch Ole Miss's first female sports reporter and building a reputation for initiative and storytelling at Ole Miss. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

See more photos from Keiran Lencheski's Journey to Commencement