On June 2, Governor Mike Braun removed alumni-elected trustees from the IU Board of Trustees and appointed three new trustees including former sports journalist Sage Steele.
Steele received a Bachelor of Science in Sports Communication in 1995. While an undergraduate student, she was involved in ROTC and an internship with IU Athletics.
Following graduation, Steele worked for news organizations in Indiana, Florida and Maryland before being hired by ESPN in 2007. In 2008, she was recognized as a distinguished alumni.
In a speaker series with the former School of Journalism in 2014, Steele said she faced gender and racial discrimination, which turned into motivation for her.
“What I realized was that this was one of many tests along the way, some having to do with race and some that don’t,” she said. “It was preparing me for the future in the television world.”
During her 16-year stint at ESPN, Steele served as a cohost of “SportsCenter,” a host of “NBA Countdown” and covered the NBA Playoffs, NBA Finals and the NBA All-Star Game.
In 2021, Steele faced controversy for her comments regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and former President Barack Obama, which led to her suspension from ESPN. She sued ESPN claiming a breach of contract and violation of her civil rights. After settling her lawsuit with the network, she departed in 2023.
Steele hosts the weekly podcast, “The Sage Steele Show” featuring notable guests such as former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In 2024, Steele’s name circulated as a potential contender for then-candidate Donald Trump’s White House Press Secretary, a rumor she denied.