Former “Voice of the Vols” Bob Kesling honored for his retirement during the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
Alumnus Bob Kesling (‘77) can still recall when he sat behind the mic for the first time as the new lead announcer for the Vol Network.
Colloquially known as the “Voice of the Vols,” his first game in this role was in 1999 when Tennessee football kicked off the season against Wyoming.
As he watched the team run through the ‘T’ that day, Kesling said it was “almost like an out of body experience.” He was no stranger to the press box at Neyland Stadium. For 15 seasons, he sat next to his “Voice of the Vols” predecessor John Ward as his spotter.
But, that day, even though he had watched Tennessee take the field countless times before, he was giddy with excitement.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it was an unexpected thrill,” Kesling said. “You’ve got to remember there’s only been a handful of guys that have sat in that seat through the years since the 1950s. We’re all proud of the Vol Network and wearing the orange shirt is special.”
He was also proud to continue the tradition of a Tennessee alum serving as the “Voice of the Vols.” It adds more pressure, Kesling said, but it is an amazing feeling.
Kesling’s 26-year run as the “Voice of the Vols” is only the cherry on top of a decorated sports broadcasting career spanning 50 years. His work ethic, energy, and passion for broadcasting have solidified him as one of Tennessee’s greatest sports storytellers.
His broadcasting accolades include being named a five-time recipient of the “Sportscaster of the Year” award and an induction into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. He has also helped mentor scores of sports broadcasters in the industry, including other School of Journalism and Media alumni.
Kesling has also supported different community organizations such as Boy Scouts of America chapters across East Tennessee, the United Way of East Tennessee, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
In recognition for all he has accomplished both in his career and personal life, Kesling was honored with the School of Journalism and Media 2024 Alumni of the Year Award.
“Bob is a trusted voice throughout East Tennessee and the Vol Nation, the one millions have turned to over the years, whether to catch the Vols or to learn what was going on in their local communities,” said Amy Jo Coffey, director of the School of Journalism and Media. “Audience trust is everything, and Bob served his audiences well. That is to be celebrated and honored.”
Kesling is one of two who have received J&M’s annual award recognizing a distinguished alum, with the other recipient being WUOT 91.9 FM Assistant Director and Program Director Todd Steed.
Giving His All for Tennessee
Growing up in Ohio, Kesling knew little about Tennessee. But that all changed when he visited campus with a friend and his friend’s father in 1972.
While the two people he came with met with the basketball coach, Kesling visited the football offices. He was interested in playing college football and inquired about the process to join the team as a walk-on fullback.
He met former Tennessee football coach Bill Battle and other members of the freshman team coaching staff, watched game film, and left with a workout program in the event he was admitted to Tennessee.
Kesling said the coaching staff’s hospitality won him over. He contacted his dad, a die-hard Ohio State Buckeye, and told him he wanted to go to Tennessee. Kesling’s dad initially dismissed it until he learned it would be cheaper than going to school in Ohio.
“Then he said, ‘Go Vols,’” Kesling said.
However, with nine carries for 38 yards as a walk-on for the Tennessee freshman football team, Kesling was politely encouraged to pursue other interests beyond college football.
He always wanted to work in sports and a chance encounter at a Knoxville Sox game—now the Tennessee Smokies—got him started in that direction.
Upset that he and his friends had to pay 50 cents more to sit behind the dugout to cheer for the minor league baseball team, he complained to the owner. The result: he got a summer job working for them.
From cooking hotdogs to writing press releases and scripts, Kesling did it all and loved every minute of it. The experience allowed him to apply all the skills he was learning as a student in what is now the School of Journalism and Media.
To increase fan attendance—and hopefully his pay—he started recording 30-second voicers after the game and shared them with local radio stations. Knoxville’s WIVK-FM was one of those stations, and they were so impressed with his work they offered him a job.
He would also use his connections with the Knoxville Sox to get a job as film editor on the Bill Battle Show—a sports talk show hosted by Ward. His job was to cut out flash frames, but he approached it with the mentality to be the best film editor in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Working on the Bill Battle Show led to another opportunity for Kesling when Ward picked him to be his spotter at football games. In addition to spotting, Kesling would also do pre-game, halftime, and post-game interviews.
This opportunity, Kesling said, allowed him to learn from one of the best in the world of sports broadcasting.
He said one thing he learned is the importance of preparation. Kesling said Ward, a UT law school graduate, would prepare for games as if they were a case. Kesling would adopt a similar style when covering sports.
After college, Kesling was appointed sports director at WIVK before accepting the sports director position at WBIR-TV, which he held for 18 years. Throughout his time at WBIR, he also called games for Jefferson Pilot Sports—the predecessor to the SEC Network— and helped with coverage on the Vol Network before the opportunity to be the next “Voice of the Vols” was offered to him.
Kesling said there is an old saying in the business, “You don’t want to be the guy that replaces the legend.”
“Well, the problem with that for me was this job only comes open about every 25 years,” Kesling said. “So, if I was going to do this job, this was my only chance to do it.”
And he is glad he did. He is forever grateful to Vol fans for tuning in and supporting the network. He has received hundreds of letters—some good and bad—from fans over the years and cherishes them.
Kesling said his favorite fan interaction was with a blind boy who shared that Kesling’s play-by-play commentary always made him feel like he was watching the game. Upon hearing this, Kesling made sure the young fan got VIP treatment, bringing him along to the press box and courtside.
Kesling officially called his last game as the “Voice of Vols” during the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball March Madness tournament following Tennessee’s loss to the University of Houston in the Elite Eight.
While he may miss being behind the mic every weekend during football and basketball seasons, Kesling said he is looking forward to retirement and spending more time with his family, especially his grandkids, and has nothing but fond memories from his time in broadcasting.
“I am just grateful for everyone who has been listening all these years,” Kesling said. “I couldn’t have done this for so long without them. It has been an honor and a blessing.”