Longtime West Virginia radio broadcaster Jay Jacobs has announced his retirement, in a release from WVU.
“I want to thank West Virginia University for allowing me to be part of Mountaineer Athletics for nearly five decades,” Jacobs said. “To the fans who follow the Mountaineers, I just want to say, ‘I was a fan just like you, but I had a microphone in my hand.’”
Jacobs is retiring from the Mountaineer Sports Network, following nearly 50 years of calling games.
Jacobs, a Morgantown native, was hired by Paul Miller as a basketball analyst for television in 1977. He would transition to radio in the 1990’s, taming with Tony Caridi in the 1996-1997 season.
“Jay’s love and passion for Mountaineer basketball will never be matched,” Caridi said. “He grew up following some of WVU’s all-time great players and then became a Mountaineer player. He was part of the ‘Golden Era’ of West Virginia basketball. Jay then used that passion and knowledge as a broadcaster for half a century. He had an absolutely amazing career and will always be part of West Virginia basketball.”
Jacobs was involved with 20 NCAA Tournament teams, including two when he was a player in 1959-1960.
“I want to congratulate Jay on an outstanding career with the Mountaineer Sports Network,” WVU Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said, “As a player and announcer, he has been a part of some of the biggest and greatest moments in West Virginia basketball history. I know how much it meant to him to be inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in September, and I thank him for his analysis and service for parts of six decades to Mountaineer basketball.”
Jacobs was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame this year, and the 85-year-old Jacobs will take part in one last broadcast. Jacobs will be on hand to call West Virginia vs St. Johns on Friday, Dec. 1, where he will also be recognized during a timeout on the Coliseum floor.
