Tennessee basketball’s 2024-25 season came to a close with a 69-50 loss against Houston in the Elite Eight on Sunday afternoon and it marked the end of an era on the Vol Network. Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp signed off for the final time as the Tennessee basketball radio announcers.
Kesling has been the Voice of the Vols since 1999, calling both Tennessee football and basketball on the radio. After being named the Voice of the Vols, Kesling brought the former Tennessee point guard Bertelkamp on to be his color commentator for basketball games.
The two spent the last 26 years calling Tennessee basketball on the radio. During their time calling Tennessee basketball, the program emerged from irrelevance into a top 25 program nationally. Over the last 26 years, the Vols made the NCAA Tournament 16 times, the Sweet 16 nine times and the program’s only three trips to the Elite Eight.
Tennessee won four SEC Regular-Season Championships under three different coaches over the last 26 seasons. In 2022, the Vols won the SEC Tournament Championship for the first time since Bertelkamp was on the team in 1979.
“Every game against Kentucky that we win is my favorite,” Bertelkamp said after announcing his retirement. “But winning in Rupp Arena, I would have to say would be the highlight.”
While the final game of the season wasn’t a good one, Bertelkamp witnessed one more favorite moment calling Tennessee basketball. The Vols boat raced Kentucky 78-65 to advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight season.
After the game ended, the Vol Network posted the final segment of their broadcast as Kesling and Bertelkamp did final reflections, gave final thanks and signed off for the final time. Here were Kesling’s final words on air as the Voice of the Vols.
“Thank you all for listening,” Kesling said. “Sorry it wasn’t a better result today. We wanted to get to the Final Four and go out on that note, but it didn’t quite happen. Today it all ends for Bert, myself and the Tennessee basketball season. As the final score, again, from Indianapolis, it was Houston 69 and Tennessee 50. This is Bob Kesling, for Bert Bertelkamp, Bobby Rayder, John Wilkerson and everybody else at the Vol Network. Thanks for being with us and so long from Indy.”
Following the sign off, the Vol Network played a compilation of the duo’s best calls with some great memories including legendary moments from Chris Lofton, Admiral Schofield and Jahmai Mashack. Listen to the final segment here.
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You can listen here to the final segment of today’s broadcast, concluding with a tribute to Bob and Bert. pic.twitter.com/blcSKPBG1T
— Vol Network (@VolNetwork) March 30, 2025
