BLACKSBURG, Va. — Longtime Virginia Tech athletics radio play-by-play broadcaster Bill Roth has decided to leave the university. He accepted a similar job at UCLA in Los Angeles. Roth, who is known as the “Voice of the Hokies,” will be honored at Saturday’s Maroon-Orange Spring Game in Blacksburg.
“This has been such an incredibly difficult and emotional decision to leave,” Roth said. “I love Virginia Tech … our coaches, our staff, our athletes, and our amazing fans. We’ve been through so much together over these 27 years, and I owe a tremendous thanks to each of them for their support, and for listening and watching our programs over the years. Professionally, this is a phenomenal opportunity to work at another prestigious and championship-level program. I am honored and humbled to be chosen for the opportunity to represent UCLA and to work at the Rose Bowl and Pauley Pavilion, two of the most historic venues in sports.”
Roth, a Pennsylvania native and Syracuse University graduate, has called some of the greatest sports moments in Virginia Tech history. His iconic call was “Touchdown Tech!”
“While we are certainly sad to see Bill depart from Virginia Tech, we are sincerely happy for him and his family for this new opportunity,” Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said. “Bill forever will be a Hokie, no matter where he works, and we thank him for his tremendous service, professionalism and friendship. He has been such a beloved part of the brand and the fabric of Virginia Tech. He will certainly be missed. We will honor Bill and his 27 years of service by creating an endowed scholarship in his name. Bill’s final game will be this weekend’s Spring Game, and we hope all fans in attendance at Lane Stadium will join us at 2 p.m., as we celebrate Bill and his career here.”
Roth was named Virginia’s Sportscaster of the Year 11 times by the National Sportswriters and Sportscaster Association. He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
“I am extremely excited about the challenge to work in the nation’s second-largest media market and to live in a true global city, Los Angeles. Personally, I have a dozen family members who live within an hour of Pauley Pavilion. I’m eager to see them on a consistent basis. Being close to my family was a major part of this decision,” Roth said.
Virginia Tech has started its search for Roth’s replacement.
