Arizona Wildcats Fan Spotlight: Fox 11’s Hayley Herst Will Bear Down

Hayley and her “Pledge Daughter” Angie Hessler is on the left, at the Fiesta Bowl – Photo Credit: Hayley Herst

Arizona Wildcats Fan: Hayley Herst

BIO: Hayley Herst is an Emmy and Associated Press Award winning Good Day LA Fox 11 Executive Producer

She graduated from the University of Arizona in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio-Television and a minor in Journalism and Political Science. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi.

After graduation, Hayley started  her career as a part-time video editor at the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas, NV (her hometown) where she spent 9 years.  She worked her way up the ladder as an associate producer, producer and then eventually an Executive Producer.

After that Hayley moved to Reno, NV to be the News Director at the NBC affiliate there and spent a year and a half perfecting her talents.

In 2001 she moved to Denver, CO to be the Executive Producer of the Morning show at the Fox Affiliate for 8+ years.  Next up was Minneapolis, MN where she was hired to be the Executive Producer of the Morning show at the Fox Affiliate.  After a year and a half there, Hayley moved to Los Angeles to be the Executive Producer of Good Day LA in 2012.

We are proud of our very own Wildcat who has accomplished so much and does a fantastic job of bringing us the news each and every day here in Los Angeles.   We thank her for sharing and letting us get to know her, my family is now switching to channel 11 each morning for our news to start the day!

More about Wildcat Fan Hayley Herst:

How long have you been a fan of the Arizona Wildcats?

I’ve been a U of A fan since I was a little girl.

My mother and my Aunt and my cousin all went to the U of A so I have always loved the school.

What was it about the University of Arizona Athletics program that caught your attention?

The Passion! When I went to school there, it was the passion the players, coaches, staff and fans had for the programs that made it special. Game days: whether they are for Football, Basketball, and Baseball swimming etc…always felt electric.

What are some of your favorite things about the Arizona Wildcats?

Team pride

The feeling that on any given day we can win

Wilbur!

Do you always watch Arizona games or go to the games when they are in town?  How often at home, how often in person, how often do you listen on the Radio?

I watch Arizona games as much as possible. If they are on television I will watch. My only frustration is that I have Directv and the Pac-12 network is not on Directv…so I end up having to go to bars to watch games.

I will go to Football and Basketball games if they are here in Southern California. I will also go to Bowl games and NCAA Basketball tournament games when they are here as well. I will also travel to bowl games and NCAA Basketball tournament games.

Hayley and her sister Rochelle Herst-Huckabee at the Fiesta Bowl – Photo Credit: Hayley Herst

Do you go to a specific establishment or sports bar to watch the games? If so, what place?

I like watching games with the Southern California Arizona Alumni Association when I can.

There is a local bar close to where I live here in West L.A. that I frequent.

What is your favorite saying when it comes to the Arizona Wildcats?

Bear Down (duh)

Also…. “I believe that we will win.”

Do you have any game day rituals or game day look?

I usually wear the same outfit for every Football game and then the same outfit for Basketball games. For last year’s NCAA Basketball Tournament I wore the same thing down to my socks for all the games.

Do you have a favorite Arizona Wildcat moment?  (in a game and/or meeting someone involved)

My first Football and Basketball game I attended at A stadium and McKale Center 1986

The 1998 Holiday Bowl which I attended and we beat Nebraska!

Making the final Four in 1987-1988

Winning the NCAA National Basketball Championship 1997

Every time we beat ASU in any sport!

Tell us about the pride you feel when you wear the school colors.

I feel very proud to wear our school colors. I try to wear red and blue every Friday. During the NCAA Basketball Tournament… bowl games etc.

Does winning or losing a game affect your mood?

Yes!

Who is your favorite Arizona Wildcat player and what sport do they or did they play? Favorite Coach? And why?

Favorite Coach…Lute Olsen. He was the basketball coach when I went to school there and he epitomizes class and school pride. He should be president of the world!

Favorite player… God there are so many that I love.

Steve Kerr for his tenacity, Teddy Bruschi for his loyalty, Sean Elliot for his strength, the 1987-88 Basketball Team, the 1997 National Basketball Championship team, Scooby Wright for his toughness, Rob Gronkowski because he is Gronk and on and on and on!

If you could say one thing to them, what would it be?

Bear Down!

ZonaZealots is looking for die hard fans like Hayley to share our passion and be in the spotlight to share and support the University of Arizona Wildcat Athletic teams.  If interested, please email sportscrazee28@gmail.com or send a Twitter message to @ZonaZealots

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