KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee named Hall of Fame radio voice Mike Keith the next voice of the Vols in a press release Thursday following the retirement of the legendary Bob Kesling.
According to the University, Keith, a Vol For Life, completed his 27th season with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, serving 26 years as “The Voice of the Titans.”
Keith put himself on the map while calling a Titans playoff game against the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 8, 2000. The Titans won the game in a last-second touchdown that Keith later dubbed “The Music City Miracle.” ESPN named the description one of the ’10 Best Radio Calls in American Sports History.’ He was also named on the list of ‘Top 100 Local Voices in the First 100 Years of Sports Broadcasting’ by Sports Broadcast Journal in 2021.
Keith will be the lead play-by-play announcer for Tennessee’s football and men’s basketball games. He will also be involved in new programming initiatives to be unveiled later this year.
“While it is very hard to say goodbye to the Tennessee Titans, it is not hard to say ‘yes’ to a return to the University of Tennessee and the Vol Network,” Keith said in a statement Thursday. “Alicia Longworth laid out a very exciting plan for how I can assist the talented VFL Films content team. Steve Early has continued to make me feel a part of the Vol Network family since I left Knoxville in 1998—it was like I never left. Everyone associated in this process has been very professional, very impressive and very kind. This continued a theme from a series of experiences that I have had over the last five years when dealing with anyone—athletics, University and Campus leadership, staff, faculty, students, etc.—-from the University of Tennessee. Everyone is just top-notch, and I mean EVERYONE. I am excited to join this entire team in hopes that I can add a solid contribution. It is great to be a Tennessee Volunteer, especially in 2025!”
Kesling announced his retirement on Nov. 7 after 25 years calling football and basketball games.
He inherited the title of “Voice of the Vols” from the legendary John Ward not long after the 1998 national championship season. At the time, he had more than two decades of broadcast experience in Knoxville as the play-by-play announcer for the Lady Vols and as the sports director at WIVK and WBIR Channel 10.
About The Author
