Longhorn Network names on-air team

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The new 24-hour Longhorn Network debuts on Aug. 26 and at the helm will be three familiar faces in the world of sports broadcasting. The network will go live from the South Mall on The University of Texas campus at 6 p.m.

The two men named as on-air announcers -- Lowell Galindo and Kevin Dunn -- have deep roots in Texas. Samantha Steele , who rounds out the team, is a native of Phoeniz, Ariz., and a former broadcaster on FOX Sports.

Galindo was born in Houston and raised in San Antonio. He will serve as the main anchor for the new partnership between The University of Texas and ESPN, which is a 20-year agreement between the two entities. The network is dedicated to Texas athletics and will offer a variety of content to viewers.

Galindo has been the lead ESPN anchor since 2007, based in Charlotte, N.C.

Dunn is a native of Austin and a UT graduate, and comes to the Longhorn Network from CBS College Sports. He will report and host for the new channel. He was a talk show host on Austin’s Sports Radio 1300 “The Zone” for five years.

Steele began her sports broadcasting career as an intern with ABC Sports Radio. In college, she was a sideline reporter at Liberty University, and after graduation, signed with FOX Sports.

“We are thrilled to have Lowell, Samantha and Kevin join us. They will bring a fresh perspective and are passionate about college sports. Who better to introduce them than Chris Fowler and the GameDay cast, the most respected group in college football?” said Stephanie Druley, vice president of production for the Longhorn Network.

The new trio will be joined on the set by the crew of the Emmy Award-winning ESPN College GameDay – Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard and Erin Andrews -- for previews of the Longhorns’ upcoming football season and its home opener vs. Rice slated for Saturday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. The game will then be re-aired at 11 p.m.

Texas coaches, players and former student-athletes will also be on hand for the two-hour special, including a 6:30 p.m. "Game Plan with Mack Brown" show.

“In true Texas fashion, we’re going to launch Longhorn Network in a big way. We want fans to know that we will look for every opportunity to make their viewing experience a great one," said Dave Brown, vice president of programming for the Longhorn Network.

Following the network’s debut, at 8 p.m., fans will see Texas’ first women’s volleyball match of the season. Senior Rachael Adams and junior Sha’Dare McNeal will return to lead the nation’s top recruiting class as ranked by Prepvollyeyball.com, featuring freshman Khat Bell and Haley Eckerman as UT hosts Pepperdine in the Burnt Orange Classic.

At 10 p.m., Texas All-Access debuts, providing unprecedented access to Coach Mack Brown and the Texas football team throughout the season, according to Longhorn Network officials.

"Rewind with Mack Brown" airs Monday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m., followed by "Texas Football Overdrive" on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. on the network.

The network's two main studios are housed at University Park, 3300 N. Interstate 35, on three floors of the eight-story building. Fifty new staff members are expected to move into the space at the end of July, of which 31 are moving to Austin from ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn.

Ten of the Longhorn Network staff members are UT graduates and five are Texas natives.