On the rink, the field and the court, ASU athletes and coaches bring passion and excellence to Sun Devil Athletics. However, it is the voices behind these sports — from play-by-play broadcasters to podcast hosts — that elevate their stories beyond arenas and stadiums.
Radio shows and broadcasts, and those who create and produce them, form an integral part of Sun Devil Athletics by involving community and legacy in ASU sports.
Tim Healey, the voice of Sun Devil football, men's basketball and baseball, has been with ASU for nearly four decades, working alongside ASU athletics alumni to bring quality broadcasts to fans.
"Jeff Van Raaphorst, former ASU quarterback, has been my color partner in football," Healey said. "We've been together longer than most marriages."
Alongside Van Raaphorst, former ASU men's basketball guard Kyle Dodd calls the sport he played for beside Healey, while retired Sun Devil catcher Max Rossiter is Healey's color analyst for baseball.
The connection between these broadcasters and the programs they once were part of brings an unparalleled dedication and wisdom to each game they call.
"It adds so much more when it's someone who has played at the school and just has the passion for the program and wants to see them do well," Healey said. "All three of my partners add a lot to the broadcast with their expertise."
Aside from broadcasting games, Sun Devil Radio Network encapsulates a handful of shoulder programs, or one-on-one shows with ASU head coaches. These podcasts encompass a variety of sports, ranging from coverage of women's basketball through "In the Huddle with Coach (Molly) Miller" to baseball via "Dugout Chatter with Willie Bloomquist."
To Tyler Paley, ASU graduate and co-host of the hockey podcast "Hell Frozen Over with Coach (Greg) Powers," the programs give hosts and coaches the opportunity to discuss topics that would not receive airtime on a typical broadcast.
"This show provides an outlet to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on over the course of any given week," Paley said. "Practice, injuries, storylines, connections, things that coach learns and our player guests as well."
Additionally, these programs play a significant role in connecting the ASU community with the skippers of their favorite sports.
While not all programs are taped at accessible locations, certain shows are filmed at local restaurants where fans can directly interact with coaches and hosts.
"When you have the show at a place like that, it adds an energy when fans can come and watch the show and provide an audience," Healey said.
The benefit of this community involvement ranges beyond the service it provides to ASU fans and supporters. In a saturated market for sports entertainment, these dedicated coaches, invested broadcasters and unique storylines help distinguish ASU sports from competitors.
"It keeps our brand and our sports on the minds of the fans out there in the Valley and then also gives the fans the opportunity to come and meet players, coaches and staff members up close," Shawn Crespin, ASU partnership and radio operations manager, said.
Just as Sun Devil sports and fanbases grow with every new season, ASU sports media looks to evolve alongside these programs. Future projects hint toward spotlighting a greater range of sports and the inner workings of these teams.
"JJ Van Niel needs a platform," Crespin said. “Megan (Bartlett) needs a platform for softball ... We have such a great group of coaches here that we're planning on creating content for all of them."
With countless hours of preparation for Healey and Paley and quick turnaround times for Crespin, it is clear that managing Sun Devil broadcasts and shoulder programming is a labor of love for these individuals.
Through Healey's storied history with ASU broadcasting, Paley's admiration for his alma mater and Crespin's dedication to the school and team he grew up cheering for, one sees the ever-growing presence and legacy of Sun Devil Athletics media in the sports it represents and the community it serves.
"To grow the fan base, fan-by-fan, these programs allow us a platform to do that because hopefully we humanize the coaches and the players a little bit more," Paley said. "You learn about them as people, not just players and numbers."
Edited by Niall Rosenberg, Jack McCarthy and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at bcsmit41@asu.edu.
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Brooklyn Smith is a sports reporter for The State Press and an English Literature and Economics student at ASU. She is in her 2nd semester with The State Press.
