“The fans are the ones who inspire me. I absolutely love them.”
At Kroger Field in Lexington, KY, you can easily spot Ohavia Phillips-Reed holding a microphone and flashing a bright smile on the big screen. As the lively on-field host for Kentucky Football, she brings tremendous energy and pure joy to every college football Caturday.
An accomplished author and the in-arena host for the Charlotte Hornets, Phillips-Reed earned her spot with the Kentucky Wildcats through dedicated preparation and impeccable timing. A native of Brooklyn, NY, who moved with her family to Charlotte, NC at a young age, she built her foundation through journalism before channeling those communication skills into sports hosting and live entertainment.
As the oldest of five siblings, she transformed her background into her ultimate strength. Her magnetic energy and natural ability to connect with sports fans reflect the experiences that shaped her life.
“I know what it’s like to be overlooked. I know what it’s like to not have what you need. I know what it’s like to ask, ‘Does anybody see me? If I need some help, how can I support?’ And so what happens is something that was meant not for my good turned out to be my greatest superpower.
So I love people. I love making sure that everyone has what they need. I love making sure they have memories to create.
And I also think that my energy just comes from such a high place, you know, I love Jesus.”
Her younger brother, Eddie Burras, works in the marketing department for University of Kentucky Athletics and happened to join Phillips-Reed at the Spectrum Center during a Hornets game. A few months later, the university invited her to host the Wildcats’ Spring Football game in April.
“It just speaks to… how you never know how much something you love can open more doors,” said Phillips-Reed.
“So my first time at my home away from home was the spring football game, and ever since then, Sierra, I have to tell you it’s been blue and white, it’s been Go Cats, it’s been BBN ever since, and I just love it here.”
Her favorite part of game day at Kroger Field is engaging with the fans and celebrating the tradition of Big Blue Nation.
“That student section, how they are roaring, and they’re excited and they’re giving their best, how I get to hear stories of folks who are like, ‘oh, this is my lineage, like my parents, my great-grandparents, this is who we are. We always bleed blue and white.'”
Phillips-Reed has hosted a wide variety of sporting events and still hopes to add college volleyball and swimming to her roster. Because she genuinely loves what she does, working alongside the Hornets and the Wildcats never feels like a job.
“I don’t work, so I’m really having the time. Like, who can say on any day, on a Saturday, you get to stand in the middle of thousands of people, bring the vibe that you love, do what you love, and see folks smiling? And you know what both of those experiences have in common? You never know whose first game it is, who maybe got bad news during the week, who maybe got good news, who was hopeful. So I’m so glad I get to meet people right where they are, no matter the sport, because I’m doing what I love. It’s a blessing!”
Fans can follow all the game day excitement and stay informed on Kentucky Athletics through BBN Tonight, which provides complete coverage and stats ahead of every UK matchup.