Kevin Cadle had ‘huge influence’ on growing NFL’s popularity in UK

Kevin Cadle’s “huge influence” on growing the NFL’s popularity in the UK has been praised following the death of the broadcaster, aged 62.

Neil Reynolds, of Sky Sports, also hailed the human qualities of the American former basketball coach who went on to become a popular NBA and NFL presenter and pundit.

Cadle became the most successful coach in British basketball during a career in which he won 30 titles with various clubs and held positions with England, Scotland and Great Britain before turning his hand to broadcasting.

Reynolds, 45, worked alongside Cadle for much of Sky Sports’ NFL coverage, and while “devastated” by his death, fondly recalls his charisma and expertise.

“It was an honour to sit alongside him,” Reynolds said.

“It was totally unexpected. I’m totally devastated by the news: it came at 1.30am. I didn’t know there was anything wrong with him, spoke to him regularly; we were planning to get together for lunch.

“Because of the growth of the NFL, people see him as an NFL presenter, but he was a very good basketball player, who played at Penn State University in America, and a hugely-successful coach. He was a giant in coaching in British basketball; there probably wasn’t even a close second.

“I’ve never met a person who didn’t like him, who had a bad word to say about him. He listened to everyone, was a people person, a great motivator.

“He was always about everyone else; bringing the best out of those around him, and about the ‘team’.

“He brought a warmth to what he did; he had an affection for the game, but also for the viewers.

“He would watch like a fan and wanted the fan at home to enjoy it that way. If we were having fun then he felt the viewer was: he was a very, very good broadcaster, and did wonders for the sport in this country.

“He was hugely influential in growing the fanbase to the point where we’ve got so many games being played here in the UK.”

Cadle, who while in basketball was named coach of the year eight times between 1984 and 1997 in England and Scotland, also had a ‘mischievous’ streak that often manifested itself on live television.

“Everything he did was always with a bit of mischief, and a glint in his eye,” Reynolds said.

“He got wind of some university students drinking a shot every time he’d say ‘ball game’, so one night on a show, in the first hour or two, he made a point of saying it 10 or 15 times.

“He looked over at me, winked, and said ‘Those boys are going to be wasted tonight’. To me that summed him up: he had that connection with the audience and wanted to have fun. In the middle of 12 hours of live coverage he gave them what they wanted.”