Mississippi College Basketball Announcer Glen Waddle Wins National Award

Glen Waddle gets fans fired up as the public address announcer at Mississippi College basketball games on home turf at the A.E. Wood Coliseum.

For the past three decades, Waddle has impressed fans, coaches, players and others during his announcing career spanning Mississippi high schools, junior colleges, and at NAIA and NCAA levels. The longtime voice of Mississippi sports was recently named the NCAA announcer of the year by the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers.

A Jackson area resident, Waddle has excelled as the man behind the microphone for more than 11 sports during his career. He also serves as announcer for University of Mississippi football and baseball and fills in for volleyball, basketball and tennis contests on the Ole Miss campus.

MC basketball fans say Waddle, who’s announced Choctaws home games for the past 17 years at the Golden Dome in Clinton, is clearly deserving of the national honor in early June.

“He’s very knowledgeable and very enthusiastic,” says retired MC administrator Doc Quick, who’s managed the clock at Choctaws basketball games for a half-century. “He gets everybody going. Glen does a lot of good things” whether it’s at MC, Ole Miss or at the high school level in the Magnolia State, added the Clinton resident. “He’s the best in this part of the United States.”

Waddle has also announced baseball and hockey games at the professional level in the Magnolia State. Adding to his lengthy resume, he’s worked the microphone at Mississippi High School Basketball and Baseball State Championships for the past 15 years. In-between his many duties announcing games, Waddle works for the Mississippi Bar Association in Jackson.

Mississippi College sports information director David Nichols has seen Waddle in action near half-court on many evenings at the A.E. Wood Coliseum.

“Glen Waddle is one of the most professional people I have had the privilege of working with,” Nichols said. “He comes prepared for every game, and he never disappoints fans with his charisma and style. Players and coaches are consistently telling me how much he adds to each and every game he calls.”

After wrapping up the 2010-2011 season with a 17-9 record, the Lady Choctaws are anxious to get back on the hardwood with Waddle's booming voice returning for an 18th year next fall on the Clinton campus.

“Glen Waddle has helped change the entire atmosphere in A.E. Wood Coliseum,” said Robin Rae Burns, the Lady Choctaws assistant coach. “His professionalism and enthusiasm for the game is unmatched,” says the top assistant to head Coach Paul Duke. “We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Glen.”

Waddle was selected for the national honor by the professional association for sports public address announcers and the individuals who hire and assign announcers. The group serves as a resource for training, education and professional development for its members. Last year’s NCAA winner was Jeff Kurtz, voice of the Kent State University Golden Flashes.

“Glen has distinguished himself by the quality of his announcing and his professionalism,” says Brad Rumble, the president of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers. “He truly represents the best in P.A. announcing.”

Waddle’s NCAA announcing resume includes five NCAA regional and super regional baseball tournaments and two NCAA Division III regional basketball games. He’s also announced two American Southwest Conference basketball championships. Since 1982, Waddle has served as the public address announcer for Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star football and basketball games.

Ole Miss officials also poured on the praise for the Mississippi sports announcer. “Glen is the consummate professional when it comes to public address announcing,” said Bill Bunting, associate media relations director at Ole Miss. “His passion and enthusiasm for the profession, along with his calm, professional demeanor behind the microphone stands out.”

Waddle succeeded MC public information and sports information director Norman Gough behind the microphone at Choctaws basketball games. Music professor Lewis Oswalt, who announces Clinton High Arrows football games, has also handled public address assignments at Mississippi College hoops games when Waddle wasn’t available. But over the past 17 years, “Glen hasn’t missed many,” Quick said.