Haynes’ road to NCAA started at OUL

LANCASTER – Molly Haynes’ road to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game went through Ohio University Lancaster.

For the past two years, the Lancaster native has been the public address announcer at the NCAA Women’s Basketball semifinals and championship game.

“This was on my bucket list,” said Haynes. “However, I never knew I had a chance to meet that goal.”

Haynes graduated from Lancaster High School in 1985 and spent her first year in college at Ohio University Lancaster. Haynes played on the OUL softball team. Her favorite class was a public speaking class taught by Associate Professor Karen Evans.

“I really wanted to establish good study habits,” Haynes said. “I really wanted to have those study habits from the start. I had friends who went away to school and didn’t do well.”

The small campus environment at OUL helped Haynes start on the right foot and adjust to the academic expectations of college.

“With the lower tuition, going to OUL the first year helped me financially,” Haynes said. “I was able to get a scholarship from the Lancaster Kiwanis club as well.”

Haynes transferred to the Athens campus for her second year. She majored in broadcast journalism.

“I knew Ohio University had a fantastic reputation for being one of the best journalism schools in the country,” Haynes said. “I was very excited to go there.”

During her time in Athens, Haynes applied for a job with Ohio University as the public address announcer for women’s volleyball and softball games. She was eventually asked to announce for the women’s basketball team.

“That’s where it all started,” Haynes said. “I announced for the Ohio University women’s basketball team and was also asked to announce the Ohio high school girls state basketball tournament in Columbus while I was in college.”

After she graduated, Haynes continued public address announcing. In 1992, she became the PA announcer for the Ohio State women’s basketball team. Her enthusiastic, high-energy style got the attention of the NCAA two years ago, and they asked her to be the announcer for the championship games.

“I hope it continues,” said Haynes. “I would really like to keep announcing the championship until at least 2018 when the NCAA women’s championship comes to Columbus, Ohio.”

Haynes also has a day job. She works as an account manager at Revolution Group, a technology consulting company in Westerville.