University Of Houston Names Kevin Eschenfelder Football Voice, Matt Thomas To Call Basketball

New Voices

The UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Athletics Department and broadcast rights holder IMG COLLEGE have named KEVIN ESCHENFELDER the radio voice of COUGARS football and MATT THOMAS as men's basketball play-by-play announcer.  Both ESCHENFELDER, host of "SPORTSTALK LIVE" and "THE TONY LEVINE SHOW" on COMCAST SPORTSNET HOUSTON, and THOMAS, host at COUGARS flagship CLEAR CHANNEL Sports KBME-A (SPORTSTALK 790), are UH alumni.  In addition, alum and COUGARS baseball and women's basketball voice JEREMY BRANHAM will serve as football sideline reporter, TED PARDEE will return as football analyst, and COUGAR basketball legend ELVIN HAYES will be back as basketball analyst.

"We had a deep and talented pool of broadcasters from all areas of the country apply for the positions and following a comprehensive search by IMG COLLEGE and our department, we focused on three very talented individuals who have established great credibility in the sports broadcasting world. It was obvious who we wanted to fill the roles. We are extremely excited to add KEVIN, MATT and JEREMY to our HOUSTON IMG SPORTS NETWORK team," said UH Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics MACK RHOADES. "All three are HOUSTON alums, call our great city their home and have been great friends of our program throughout the years."

"I am really pumped and ready to get going with the UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. I grew up following the HOUSTON COUGARS and have been a fan of the program all my life. My childhood hero was former HOUSTON great DANNY DAVIS; this truly is a dream come true," said ESCHENFELDER. "This is thrilling that I get to be a part of the HOUSTON experience, and I am counting down the days until AUGUST 30."

THOMAS, who called HOUSTON athletics in 1996-98, said, "I am thrilled to be back as the basketball play-by -play voice of the HOUSTON COUGARS.  I've been very fortunate to work for several terrific institutions, but it is extra special to be able to call the games for your alma mater,  The COUGAR broadcasts have featured many talented broadcasters over the years. I look forward to continuing that trend on the IMG network this season."

"I was already looking forward to the HOUSTON football season, but I am even more so now that I've been added to the broadcast team," said BRANHAM. "I am really looking forward to working with KEVIN ESCHENFELDER, who has been a great broadcaster in the HOUSTON area for many years, and TED PARDEE, who always brings great excitement and passion to the broadcast. I am thankful for the opportunity."

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