Chief Executive Officer
Fan Awards Network

Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Ahmad Rashad is the Chief Executive Office of FAN Awards Network. He is also the executive producer of NBA Entertainment-produced specials and is the host and executive producer of Tuesday Night with Ahmad on NBA TV. For 16 seasons, Rashad served as executive producer of the Emmy-nominated show, NBA Inside Stuff.

Previously, Rashad brought his NBA expertise to the ESPN/ABC NBA team, serving as the host and executive producer of NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad and providing lifestyle features and essays for both networks. He was also an in-studio host for ABC Sports’ NBA halftime show, and his work appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter, NBA 2Night, NBA FastBreak and other studio programming. Rashad also served as host for ABC’s top-rated reality shows, Celebrity Mole Hawaii and Celebrity Mole Yucatan.

Rashad’s broadcasting career began in 1983 when he joined NBC Sports as an NFL commentator and host for NBC’s SportsWorld. He extended his duties to include studio hosting, feature reporting, analysis and commentary for a variety of sports and events. From the beginning of NBC’s coverage of the NBA in 1990, Rashad was a key contributor, working as a courtside reporter throughout the regular season, the All-Star Game, the Playoffs and the Finals. In 2001 and 2002, he served as the studio host for NBC’s pregame and halftime shows during NBA telecasts.

At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, he served as a weekend host and late-night correspondent. In 1992, Rashad was one of the hosts of NBC’s broadcast of the Summer Olympics from Barcelona, and in 1988 he served as a studio anchor during coverage of the Seoul Olympics. His efforts in Seoul earned him an Emmy for writing, one of eight Emmy nominations he has received during his career.

Rashad has also served as the host of the nationally syndicated shows RealTV and Entertainment Tonight, as well as Later on NBC and a game show, Caesar’s Challenge. He is the author of the best-selling memoir Rashad: Vikes, Mikes and Something on the Backside, and he serves on the board of The Schwartzberg Companies and as a consultant to the Sidney Frank Importing Company.

Rashad’s charitable work has included numerous USO visits to troops all over the world, plus efforts on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Robin Hood, the Brain Tumor Society, Have a Chance, NBA Cares, the Special Olympics and the Frito Lay Challenge for Children. In November 2006, Rashad received the Award of Courage, an honor bestowed by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Rashad was born in Portland, Ore. on Nov. 19. 1949 and graduated from Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Wash. in 1967. He was honored as a high school All-American, one of his most memorable achievements, and accepted a football scholarship to the University of Oregon.

Rashad earned his bachelor’s degree from Oregon, now serves on the university’s board of trustees and was the 1995 recipient of the university’s Pioneer Award, the highest honor given to an alumnus

A two-time All-American for the Ducks at running back and wide receiver, Rashad established 14 Oregon records. He set single-game (249), season (1,211) and career (2,306) rushing marks as well as season (54) and career (131) records for receptions. He was the only player to lead the Pac-8/Pac-10 Conference in scoring (1969-70) from two different positions (RB, WR) and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Following his collegiate career, Rashad was the fourth overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Rashad was converted back to wide receiver while with the Cardinals, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Buffalo Bills (1974–1976), the Seattle Seahawks (1976), and, most notably, the Minnesota Vikings (1976–1982), where he earned four Pro Bowl selections from 1978 to 1981.

Subsequent to his retirement, Rashad was named to the Vikings’ 25th and 40th anniversary teams.