It’s quite a journey from Streator High School’s Pops Dale Gymnasium to the Golden Dome at the University of Notre Dame.

According to Google maps, the distance is just under 167 highway miles one way.

But that lengthy trip has passed in what must seem like just a heartbeat for Nick Deranek.

The former radio personality and public address announcer for Streator and St. Bede Academy athletic events is thriving in several new jobs in his hometown of South Bend, Ind., among them at the microphone for the Fighting Irish home basketball games.

And he admits he’s got his eye on some even higher callings.

“Basketball is nice, but eventually, the top goal has to be Notre Dame football, at some point,” said Deranek. “I did an international soccer game there once, so I know what my voice sounds like in that stadium. That would be nice … But the ultimate, the pinnacle, even beyond Notre Dame football, would be to announce at Wrigley Field or do the Cubs on the radio, though Pat Hughes would leave some pretty big shoes to fill. If that ever happens, then I’ll be set.”

Having returned to the South Bend area in 2018, Deranek is currently working as news director for News Now Warsaw in Indiana, but is based in Nashville. Due to the pandemic, those Hoosier stations are helping voice stations in the top 40 market there, as well. That could be a big career boost moving forward.

The opportunity for the PA work for the Fighting Irish came when the man who had been doing it suddenly passed away. Deranek didn’t apply for the job right away, but was about to when they asked if he’d be interested.

“Being a Notre Dame fan,” he said, “and seeing Mike Brey, someone I’ve idolized since I was 11 years old, coach so many great players coming out of there, this is a big thing for me being a part of the great history of men’s and women’s basketball here at Notre Dame.”

He has also been serving as a video replay/off-ice official – prepping video replays for the on-ice officials – for high school hockey for 14 years, and the last six years for ND and the Big Ten Conference. That despite the fact that his only hockey playing experience was on a club team at Elkhart Memorial High School. He has also announced for Notre Dame baseball.

Not bad for a bashful guy who got his first taste of announcing in high school when he was keeping the scoreboard at a volleyball match and the athletic director asked him if he’d read the starting lineups. Eventually, he decided on a radio career and in 2012 ended up at a station in Lombard, Ill. A few stops later, he reached out to Cole Studstill of Studstill Media in Peru and soon started a job at WSPL in Streator in June of 2012.

At the request of then-AD Kevin Wargo, Deranek did the PA announcing and stats for Streator athletic events for six years, and later at St. Bede for two, before heading back toward his home turf.

“I have to credit those I worked with at WSPL for where I am today,” Deranek said. “It’s hard to imagine I’d be here without them. I miss Streator and think of the people there often. … Going from there 17 years ago to where I’m at now here at Notre Dame, it’s been an incredible trip. I’m definitely living many parts of the dreams I’ve had.”