Dan Wetzel

Dan Wetzel is a prominent American sports journalist and author who has served as a national columnist for Yahoo! Sports since 2003. He is particularly known for his coverage of college sports, the NFL, and his investigative reporting on major sports controversies. Wetzel has authored or co-authored multiple bestselling books, including "Death to the BCS: The Definitive Case Against the Bowl Championship Series" and "Glory Road" with Don Haskins. His work "Sole Influence: Basketball, Corporate Greed, and the Corruption of America's Youth" exposed the relationships between shoe companies and youth basketball. The journalist has gained recognition for his investigative reporting on several high-profile sports scandals, including the Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State and the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal. His coverage of these stories helped bring national attention to institutional failures in sports organizations. Wetzel's writing has earned him multiple awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors, and his columns regularly generate significant discussion within the sports community. He frequently appears as a commentator on various sports networks and radio programs, providing analysis on major sports stories and developments.

Readers praise Wetzel's engaging writing style for young adult sports books and his investigative journalism covering college athletics scandals. His YA sports biographies connect with middle-school readers through relatable narratives about athletes' early struggles and development. Likes: - Makes complex sports stories accessible to young readers - Thorough research and documentation in investigative pieces - Balances human interest with athletic achievements - Clear explanations of sports concepts Dislikes: - Some find his YA books oversimplified - Investigative pieces can be dense with legal/administrative details - Occasional repetition of key points Ratings: Goodreads: - Epic Athletes series: 4.3/5 average (800+ ratings) - Death to the BCS: 4.1/5 (450+ ratings) Amazon: - YA titles average 4.5/5 stars - Sports investigation books average 4.2/5 stars "Perfect for reluctant readers who love sports" appears frequently in teacher/parent reviews. Sports journalists cite his reporting on NCAA issues as "meticulous" and "well-sourced."

Glory Road (2012) Chronicles the 1966 Texas Western Miners basketball team, who became the first all-Black starting lineup to win the NCAA championship.

Death to the BCS: The Definitive Case Against the Bowl Championship Series (2010) Examines and critiques college football's Bowl Championship Series system, detailing its financial structure and impact on competition.

Sole Influence: Basketball, Corporate Greed, and the Corruption of America's Youth (2000) Documents the relationship between shoe companies, youth basketball, and the commercialization of amateur sports.

No Way Back: The Story of Trey Porter's Journey Through Brain Cancer (2019) Follows the experiences of Michigan high school basketball player Trey Porter during his battle with brain cancer.

Born to Coach: The Josh Pastner Story (2009) Details the early career of basketball coach Josh Pastner, who became one of the youngest Division I head coaches in NCAA history.

Resilience: Faith, Focus, Triumph (2009) Co-authored with Alonzo Mourning, describes the NBA player's career and kidney transplant experience.