The University of Akron Athletics
Skoczen Tabbed New Voice of the Zips on Akron’s New Station
October 30 | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – iHeartMedia's Dave Skoczen has been tabbed as the new Voice of the Zips as Akron moves to its new flagship radio station 640 WHLO, the University of Akron Athletics Department announced on Friday.
"What an honor to be chosen for a Division I play-by-play job, especially at Akron because it is so rare for anyone to take this seat at their alma mater," Skoczen said. "I'm nervous and excited all at the same time."
Skozcen is slated to make his debut as the Zips football play-by-play announcer when Akron opens the 2020-21 season against Western Michigan at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
Skoczen is extremely familiar with Akron Athletics having called several men's basketball games over the last three years. His first game on the call for the blue and gold was in Huntington, W.Va. on Dec. 2, 2017, when the men's basketball team traveled to Marshall. He followed with spot appearances for both men's and women's basketball and the Zips Football with Terry Bowden TV show.
In 2019-20, Skoczen became a permanent staple on the airwaves for Akron as the Zips' radio analyst for football and host of Akron's weekly hour-long radio show Zips LIVE, presented by Spaghetti Warehouse (510 South Main Street) on Thursday's at 6 p.m. Furthermore, Skoczen is an Akron alumnus, graduating in 2001 with a marketing management degree from College of Business Administration.
"In terms of the actual football games, it was good to be around for a full season and to do a full season of color commentary. Color is very different than play-by-play because it forces you to watch the game in a different way. You're not just tracking the ball because you have to come up with different insight than the play-by-play person," Skoczen said.
During his time as an Akron student, Skoczen was a broadcaster and sports director for WZIP as well as studio producer for 640 WHLO and produced the inaugural season of Akron Aeros Baseball in 1997. He served as a news and sports reporter for WHBC Canton (1997-2001) and has advanced to on-air broadcasting for over 20 years.
He called games for Canton Crocodiles Baseball (2000-2001), Visalia Oaks Baseball (2002-2004), Porterville College football and basketball (2002-2003) and West Michigan Whitecaps Baseball (2005-2008). Skoczen spent the following six years at ESPN Cleveland as a sports show host and play-by-play announcer for the Mid-American Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, as well as high school football games in Northeast Ohio.
"As someone who has been around basketball and Minor League Baseball, where in both cases everything fits on one bus including everyone's luggage and equipment, it was amazing to see the scope of the operation for football, especially for road games," Skoczen said.
Skoczen has been with iHeartMedia, the parent company of 640 WHLO, since 2018.
In August 2020, Akron Athletics announced that 640 WHLO would become the broadcast home of University of Akron football, as well as men's and women's basketball starting with the 2020-21 athletics season. In addition, the station hosts the weekly hour-long radio show every Thursday at 6 p.m. covering Zips Athletics, which airs locally on Akron Sports Network flagship 640 WHLO. The broadcast can also be heard via the 640 WHLO channel on iHeartRadio. To listen on Amazon Echo or Google home devices, say "Play 640 WHLO on iHeartRadio."
Akron broadcasts are produced by Learfield IMG College, the Zips' multimedia rightsholder. Akron Sports Properties is the company's locally based team that works in collaboration with the athletic administration.
AKRON, Ohio – iHeartMedia's Dave Skoczen has been tabbed as the new Voice of the Zips as Akron moves to its new flagship radio station 640 WHLO, the University of Akron Athletics Department announced on Friday.
"What an honor to be chosen for a Division I play-by-play job, especially at Akron because it is so rare for anyone to take this seat at their alma mater," Skoczen said. "I'm nervous and excited all at the same time."
Skozcen is slated to make his debut as the Zips football play-by-play announcer when Akron opens the 2020-21 season against Western Michigan at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
Skoczen is extremely familiar with Akron Athletics having called several men's basketball games over the last three years. His first game on the call for the blue and gold was in Huntington, W.Va. on Dec. 2, 2017, when the men's basketball team traveled to Marshall. He followed with spot appearances for both men's and women's basketball and the Zips Football with Terry Bowden TV show.
In 2019-20, Skoczen became a permanent staple on the airwaves for Akron as the Zips' radio analyst for football and host of Akron's weekly hour-long radio show Zips LIVE, presented by Spaghetti Warehouse (510 South Main Street) on Thursday's at 6 p.m. Furthermore, Skoczen is an Akron alumnus, graduating in 2001 with a marketing management degree from College of Business Administration.
"In terms of the actual football games, it was good to be around for a full season and to do a full season of color commentary. Color is very different than play-by-play because it forces you to watch the game in a different way. You're not just tracking the ball because you have to come up with different insight than the play-by-play person," Skoczen said.
During his time as an Akron student, Skoczen was a broadcaster and sports director for WZIP as well as studio producer for 640 WHLO and produced the inaugural season of Akron Aeros Baseball in 1997. He served as a news and sports reporter for WHBC Canton (1997-2001) and has advanced to on-air broadcasting for over 20 years.
He called games for Canton Crocodiles Baseball (2000-2001), Visalia Oaks Baseball (2002-2004), Porterville College football and basketball (2002-2003) and West Michigan Whitecaps Baseball (2005-2008). Skoczen spent the following six years at ESPN Cleveland as a sports show host and play-by-play announcer for the Mid-American Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, as well as high school football games in Northeast Ohio.
"As someone who has been around basketball and Minor League Baseball, where in both cases everything fits on one bus including everyone's luggage and equipment, it was amazing to see the scope of the operation for football, especially for road games," Skoczen said.
Skoczen has been with iHeartMedia, the parent company of 640 WHLO, since 2018.
In August 2020, Akron Athletics announced that 640 WHLO would become the broadcast home of University of Akron football, as well as men's and women's basketball starting with the 2020-21 athletics season. In addition, the station hosts the weekly hour-long radio show every Thursday at 6 p.m. covering Zips Athletics, which airs locally on Akron Sports Network flagship 640 WHLO. The broadcast can also be heard via the 640 WHLO channel on iHeartRadio. To listen on Amazon Echo or Google home devices, say "Play 640 WHLO on iHeartRadio."
Akron broadcasts are produced by Learfield IMG College, the Zips' multimedia rightsholder. Akron Sports Properties is the company's locally based team that works in collaboration with the athletic administration.
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