Last Updated on May 3, 2016 8:26 pm
BOONE, N.C. — Two familiar voices for Mountaineer fans — Adam Witten and Randy Jackson — will serve as the new play-by-play announcers for Appalachian State University football and men’s basketball radio broadcasts, respectively, director of athletics Doug Gillin announced on Tuesday.
“We’re very excited that Adam and Randy will be the voices of Appalachian State football and men’s basketball for Mountaineer fans listening across the globe on the Appalachian IMG Sports Network,” Gillin said. “In addition to being experienced and talented broadcasters, Adam and Randy are both longtime members of the Appalachian family. Their dedication to the Black and Gold is unmatched and will shine through when calling the action for our terrific fans.”
Witten, a 2004 Appalachian State graduate, returns to his alma mater for his second stint with the Appalachian IMG Sports Network. He previously served in a variety of roles within App State’s radio and video operations, including as a member of the Mountaineers’ football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball radio broadcast teams from 2000-06.
Since 2008, Witten has worked at the IMG headquarters in Winston-Salem. He currently serves as a senior network manager, overseeing audio broadcast operations within several of the company’s Division I properties across the Southeast region. In that role, he has done national play-by-play for some of the ACC’s biggest events, including Thursday night football, bowl games and the league’s men’s basketball tournament.
His wide array of play-by-play experience also includes select Duke and Virginia Tech men’s basketball radio broadcasts and assignments with the American Athletic Conference’s regional/national television and radio packages.
“There’s no greater privilege in this business than calling games for your alma mater,” Witten said. “I’m extremely grateful to Doug Gillin, Coach (Scott) Satterfield, (assistant A.D.) Mike Flynn and IMG for entrusting me with this opportunity. I also want to thank David Jackson for his 15 years of exceptional work as Voice of the Mountaineers and for being a mentor and friend since my days as a student at Appalachian. I look forward to being back on the mountain this fall.”
“On behalf of our football program, I’m happy to welcome Adam back to App State,” Satterfield said. “Adam has a lot of pride in our University and knowledge of the great history of Mountaineer football. He will do a great job of calling our games and promoting our program and University.”
Jackson has been a member of the Appalachian IMG Sports Network broadcast crew for the past 10 years, serving as color analyst for App State men’s basketball and baseball and pregame host/sideline reporter for Mountaineer football. He filled the role as Appalachian State’s men’s basketball play-by-play announcer on an interim basis for much of the 2015-16 campaign.
A television personality in North Carolina’s Triad market for more than 20 years, Jackson got his start in collegiate athletics in the 1970s as the radio voice of Southern Illinois University athletics.
“I am thrilled to be able to bring Mountaineer fans all the excitement of Appalachian State men’s basketball,” Jackson said. “Coach (Jim) Fox and his staff are working to build a high-quality basketball program here at Appalachian State and it is a real honor for me to call their games. This is a great group of dedicated young men and coaches; it will be one of the highlights of my broadcasting career to share their stories with such supportive fans.”
“I’m delighted that Randy will return as our play-by-play announcer on a permanent basis,” Fox said. “He has been a part of the family for a long time and his enthusiasm and support of our program are unrivaled. Randy is a huge asset to our program and to Appalachian State fans around the world that depend on him to bring them the action of Mountaineer basketball.”
The remainder of the Appalachian IMG Sports Network radio broadcast teams will be finalized in the near future.
