Adam Winkler’s TV career has gone South, and he’s perfectly fine with it.
After spending three years with KWTX, the top-rated station in Waco, Adam headed 100 miles down Interstate 35 to join the KEYE-TV sports team in June of 2010. However, this isn’t the first time he has called the Austin area home. Adam received his Communication Studies degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown. While at SU, he played baseball for legendary head coach Jim Mallon. Adam helped the Pirates reach the conference title game four straight years, including 2002, when Southwestern defeated Trinity to win the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. In 2014, Winkler was named Southwestern University’s Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year.
After graduating from Southwestern, Adam started his career at KNOE in Monroe, Louisiana. From 2004 to 2007 he covered Louisiana Tech, UL-Monroe, Grambling, LSU and the Saints before making his way back to the Lone Star State.
The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters has honored Adam nine times. He was voted Best Sports Anchor in 2014. He’s won the award for Best Sports Story in 2014, 2013 and 2009, and has also received First Place honors in the category of Best Sportscast and Best Sports Special. In all, Winkler has been honored with eleven Associated Press Broadcasters awards in Texas and Louisiana, seven of those are of the first place variety.
In 2014, Adam was the recipient of the prestigious Barbara Jordan Media Award. Each year the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities recognizes journalists who produce material that accurately and positively reports on individuals with disabilities, using People First language and respectful depictions. Adam won the award for his story on Francisca Mardones, a world-class wheelchair tennis player, who trains in Austin. Winkler’s story was the only TV feature to win the Barbara Jordan Media Award in 2014.
Adam is also a two-time Emmy nominee. In 2013, he was one of only three journalists recognized by the Lone Star EMMY chapter in the category of On Camera Talent: Sports Reporter. His feature Sidelines & Bloodlines: The Hoffman Family Football Story was nominated for a 2010 Lone Star EMMY Award.
Since arriving at KEYE TV, Adam has traveled to Berea, Ohio to cover Colt McCoy’s rookie training camp with the Cleveland Browns, Lincoln, Nebraska for the Longhorns’ final Big 12 football game against the Huskers, Houston for the 2011 Men’s NCAA Final Four, Pasadena, California for UT’s first game at the Rose Bowl since playing in the 2009 BCS national championship, New Orleans for events surrounding Super Bowl XLVII, Surprise, Arizona for Texas Rangers spring training and Omaha for the 2014 College World Series. However, his memorable assignments are not limited to sports. Adam reported LIVE from West, Texas on the morning of April 18th following the town’s deadly fertilizer plant explosion.
During his time in Waco, Adam was courtside at Madison Square Garden for Baylor’s historic trip to the 2009 Men’s NIT Final Four. He also covered the 2010 NCAA Women’s Final Four, the first regular season game in Cowboys Stadium, multiple Big 12 tournaments, and was in College Station for the five overtime game between Baylor and Texas A&M in 2008.
Adam is the proud father of a Dorkie (a mix of Dachshund and Yorkie) named Oscar. When he’s not busy trying to convince Oscar that the squirrel always wins, Adam enjoys playing golf and following Houston Astros baseball. If he’s watching the ‘Stros with an ice pack on his shoulder, it’s because Adam plays on a championship co-ed dodgeball team (despite his right arm telling him to hang it up).
