What makes NTA Unique?  NTA provides two games each week.  Both have a video stream available on the Internet. Additionally, our games of week can be seen in replay throughout the week on Comcast Channel 57, with the accompanying radio broadcast.

Before the season NTA does down-home style live interviews with NIC-10 and area coaches and players. “There is something special about high school football,” said Ervin, a 2003 NIC-10 Service Award recipient. “It’s hard to put it into words.”


Our Team:

Ken DeCoster provides a terrific call of NIC-10 High School Football and Basketball games.  Ken is no stranger to the local prep scene, having been a sideline reporter in 1982 when Guilford beat Robeson for the state title, and covering East’s 1985 title run and Belvidere’s two championships.


Dean Ervin, a West High grad who’s been working the sidelines since on games with Bill Phillips and Bob Presman in 1983 before joining the NTA-Sports team in 2006.  “In my opinion, Dean’s the best and no one is close,” DeCoster said. “He will forecast what plays will be called, analyze formations and anticipate penalties.” “Schools are great accommodating radio,” DeCoster said. “Inclement weather, like we had last fall from late September to November, can be a problem, though. Because of the audio and video equipment, we’re often on top of the press box, braving winds and rain gusts.”

Dean's knowlege of football and his coaching and teaching ability began back in 1971.  Dean Ervin began his coaching career with the Rock Valley Junior tackle program.  Dean remembered coaching Lenard Bell on that team, who went on to play for the Jefferson J-Hawks, the University of Indiana, and was eventually drafted in the third-round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1987.  

Dean left the Rock Valley Junior tackle program to start the Ken Rock Junior tackle football program in 1973.  Dean began coaching the lightweights and continued that responsibility through 1976.  In 1977, Dean left to coach the Hydro-line Junior tackle team.
 
In 1981 Dean Ervin began his eight-year coaching career at Eisenhower Middle School.  Dean was proud of many of his former players.  He recalled the 1985 East Erabs Championship team, and the backfield of Tony Hart, John Brown and Mark Melbourne.  All played for and were coached by Dean Ervin on his Eisenhower team.
 
All together, Dean Ervin won nine championships between all the teams he coached.  The most losses he ever had in a single season was three.  Dean believes that the first game of the season always sets and tone and many times dictates how your season is going to go.


Bill Koch is a 23-year radio veteran and covering high school sports is one of his passions.  Bill provides color during the NIC-10 Football season and is a play-by-play announcer for NIC-10 Basketball Season. Bill works with the broadcast team of Ken DeCoster and Dean Ervin during the football season.  Some of the most memorable games Bill has witnessed were the victory the Belvidere Bucs had over Chicago Roberson, The run Belvidere North had with Coach Curt Tobin and the two State Championships Boylan had under the leadership of Coach Dan Appino.   

For basketball, the last second shot that was heard around the Stateline in a Regional game between Rockford Lutheran and Rockford Christian, the run of the Winnebago Indians, Rockford Christian, the Rockford Lutheran Crusaders and the Auburn Knights down State.

 
Dave Perrone – Coached both boys and girls Basketball programs for 30+ years in the Stateline Area.  Dave has led his teams all the way to the State Championship.  Dave joined the NTA-Sports team in 2006, and has added his expertise and knowledge to our broadcasts.  Dave started the Sports Huddle in the Fall of 2006, which airs between 7am-8am on Saturday mornings on NTA 100.5FM during the Football and Basketball seasons.  The Sports Huddle will air again this year beginning in late August and continuing through March 2013.