Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Renowned sports broadcaster for the University of Tennessee Bob Kesling Thursday announcing he will retire as the Voice of the Vols after the 2024-25 men’s basketball season.
Kesling has enjoyed an incredible career that stretches over five decades, marking him as a pillar of the Vol Network and the iconic voice of UT football and men’s basketball.
Kesling worked under legendary broadcaster and former Voice of the Vols John Ward for 15 seasons, handling pre-game, halftime and post-game interviews, before ascending to the role in 1999.
Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White reflected on Kesling’s career announcing Tennessee plays on Thursday, calling him an icon for Tennessee Athletics.
“Bob‘s influence has been remarkable, touching so many lives as the ’Voice of the Vols’ and through his heartfelt dedication as a mentor and leader in our Knoxville community for over 50 years,” White said. “He embodies the true spirit of someone who has given his all for Tennessee.”
Kesling has received numerous awards over his decades-long career, including induction this summer into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in Murfreesboro. The event was organized by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and further cemented the Vol Radio Network’s legacy.
“As an icon in the broadcasting industry, we are deeply appreciative of the professionalism he brings to Tennessee Athletics each time he takes the microphone,” White said. “His contributions resonate with all of us here on Rocky Top and we cannot thank him enough for everything he has done.”
It‘s a legacy that’s stretched over some of Tennessee’s most famous sports moments.
“Bob Kesling has been the soundtrack to the memories of generations of Vols fans,” Chancellor Donde Plowman said. “From his calls of Pat Summitt’s six national championships to the 2022 football win over Alabama, he has cemented his place in Tennessee Athletics history. His professionalism, dedication, and love for Tennessee is unmatched and we are grateful that he chose to share his talents with all of us for the last three-plus decades.”
Active in the community, Kesling serves on the boards of directors for Goodwill, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. He was also the 2013 United Way Campaign Chairperson. He was inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Tennessee Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame in 2020.
A 1977 graduate of Tennessee, Kesling and his wife, Tami, have two daughters, Allison and Melissa; he retires after the 2024-25 men’s basketball season to spend more time with his family which now includes four grandchildren with another anticipated in April.
