Alumnus Matt Park named SU’s new ‘Voice of the Orange’

Alumnus Matt Park named SU’s new ‘Voice of the Orange’July 19, 2004Sue Cornelius Edsonsedson@syr.edu

Syracuse University alumnus Matt Park ’97 has been named the play-by-play broadcaster for football and men’s basketball on the Syracuse/ISP Radio Network, broadcast locally on Citadel Communications flagship stations WAQX 95.7 FM and WNNS 1260 AM. He will also host SU football and men’s basketball coaches’ shows, and “Orange Pulse,” a weeknight show about SU sports, broadcast on ESPN Radio affiliate WNNS.

Park recently completed his second year with the SU Radio Network, serving as network host and sideline reporter for football, network host and color analyst for men’s basketball, and play-by-play announcer for men’s lacrosse. Park is also completing his first season as the lead broadcaster of the Binghamton Mets Class AA baseball team. Park will be employed by Syracuse/ISP Sports, the multi-media rights holder of SU Athletics and producer of SU radio sportscasts.

“I’m ecstatic about this opportunity. It’s a dream job that I’ve wanted for a very long time and I can’t wait to begin,” saysPark

Park succeeds Mark Johnson as “Voice of the Orange.” Johnson leaves SU to become sports director for the KOA, KKZN and KHOW radio stations in Denver, where he will become the play-by-play voice for University of Colorado Buffalo football and basketball broadcasts. In addition to his full-time duties as sports director for the three stations, Johnson will host coaches’ shows for Colorado football and basketball and oversee the programming for KOA broadcasts of Colorado Rockies baseball and Denver Broncos football games. KOA is the flagship station for both professional teams.

“Working with Mark Johnson the past two years, I’ve learned from one of the best broadcasters in the profession. I’m thrilled for him and wish him the best in Denver,” says Park.

“We knew when Mark Johnson was hired that he was a major market talent,” says SU Associate Athletic Director Michael Veley. “He earned the trust of our coaching staff, student-athletes and our fans, and he will be very successful in Denver.”

Veley says that Park was a finalist for the SU vacancy in 2002. “The long-range plan was to hire Matt as an integral part of our network, and as a possible replacement if Mark Johnson received an offer that was best for his career and his family’s needs. Now we’ll implement that plan,” says Veley.

General Manager of Syracuse/ISP Sports, Scott Malaga, says Park will team with former SU football coach Dick MacPherson during the 2004 football season, which begins Sept. 5 at Purdue. A search to replace Park in his former capacities with the network will begin immediately.

“We will utilize the excellent SU alumni network and the resources of our company to find a highly qualified replacement as network host and lacrosse play-by-play announcer,” said Malaga.

The SU Radio Network includes nearly 20 stations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont.