Tennessee announced Mike Keith as its newest Voice of the Vols on Thursday morning as the Volunteer State native replaces Bob Kesling, who announced his retirement last fall after 26 years in the role.
Keith served as the Tennessee Titans radio announcer ever since the franchise moved from Houston to Tennessee in 1997.
There was a thought that Keith might continue on as the Titans’ radio announcer while also assuming the same duties for the Vols. However, that is not the case and Keith will be leaving his role with the Titans to work full time for the University of Tennessee.
“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 press release.
Keith spent the last 28 years as the Titans head radio announcer, calling legendary moments like the Music City Miracle as well as the franchise’s lone trip to the Super Bowl since making the move to Tennessee. He undoubtedly called bad moments as well including the last two seasons when the Titans combined for a 9-25 record.
The Knoxville native, Keith grew up in Chattanooga and Franklin and now returns to his alma mater. He has previously described being the Voice of the Vols as his dram job. Before his time with the Titans, Keith worked in Knoxville and was a part of John Ward’s “Vol Network” broadcast.
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“Alicia Longworth laid out a very exciting plan for how I can assist the talented VFL Films content team,” Keith said. “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.”
Keith will also call Tennessee men’s basketball games in what will be a new challenge for him. The 57-year old has little experience announcing basketball and none as a radio announcer. His only time calling basketball games has been in SEC Network+ broadcasts.
Along with John Wilkerson, Keith brought Vol baseball to the radio oft traveling and working for free in the early days. During an early 1990s trip to Arkansas, their mix plug shorted leading to them making up breaks in the action to switch the necessary D batteries to run the mixer every few innings.
Keith was the lead announcer for Tennessee’s second-ever trip to the College World Series in 1995— the Vols’ first since 1951 and a seminal moment for the program’s resurgence under head coach Rod Delmonico. Wilkerson will continue in his role as Tennessee baseball’s lead radio announcer.
