Ari Wolfe
Encyclopedia
Ari Wolfe is a play-by-play announcer of college and professional sports on both television and radio.
, Wolfe did both play-by-play and color commentary for the Trojans' basketball, football, and baseball teams on KSCR (104.7 FM) in Los Angeles
.
Born in Philadelphia and raised there and in Madison, Wisconsin
, and now living in Los Angeles, Wolfe graduated from Emory University
in 1994. Off the field, Wolfe has worked as a long-time mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and takes pride in his culinary skills. During a Soul Live broadcast on Sports Radio 950 AM in Philadelphia a prank caller had asked him if he was a fan of Howard Stern
. This was the same caller who asked him earlier in the season if Arena Football
was fixed.
's Annenberg School for Communication
and obtaining a Masters Degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1997, Wolfe has utilized his versatile game-calling skills in both college and pro sports. In 2005, Wolfe won his first Emmy Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Play-by-Play for his composite work on University of Louisville
football and basketball broadcasts.
Wolfe is currently working for the NFL Network. He does various roles for the network; including news updates, reporting and play-by-play announcing. Wolfe is entering his fifth season as the TV play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Vikings
preseason games. He also handled Philadelphia Eagles
preseason broadcasts on the Eagles Television Network in 2005. From 2003-2006 he worked as an NFL sideline reporter on Sports USA Radio. From 2002-07, he was a play-by-play announcer for NFL Europe
games on Fox Sports
and the NFL Network
.
Since the fall of 2009, Wolfe has broadcast college football and college basketball games for the Mtn.
.
Wolfe has worked for Universal Sports since 2009. He has done play-by-play for the 2009 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships, called the 2009 and 2010 World Table Tennis Championships and three seasons of World Cup Rowing, including the World Championships.
In 2008, Wolfe debuted as a play-by-play announcer for ESPN
’s coverage of Big East Conference
basketball. In a partnership with WHAS-TV in Louisville, KY and the University of Louisville
Athletic Department, Wolfe has been the TV play-by-play announcer for the University of Louisville
Football and Basketball teams since 2005.
He was also the host of both coaches shows, Courtside with Rick Pitino
and Kickoff with Coach K. He also served as a play-by-play announcer for national broadcasts of NCAA football games on the Sports USA Radio Network
.
In 2011, Wolfe started his 13th year as a play-by-play announcer in the Arena Football League. He did regional broadcasts of AFL games on Comcast
. During 2006, he was the play-by-play announcer for the National Cable Game of the Week on OLN
. He has been the TV/Radio voice of the Philadelphia Soul
since their first game in 2004.
Early life and career
As a student at USCUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, Wolfe did both play-by-play and color commentary for the Trojans' basketball, football, and baseball teams on KSCR (104.7 FM) in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Born in Philadelphia and raised there and in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, and now living in Los Angeles, Wolfe graduated from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in 1994. Off the field, Wolfe has worked as a long-time mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and takes pride in his culinary skills. During a Soul Live broadcast on Sports Radio 950 AM in Philadelphia a prank caller had asked him if he was a fan of Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
. This was the same caller who asked him earlier in the season if Arena Football
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
was fixed.
Broadcasting career
Since graduating from the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
's Annenberg School for Communication
USC Annenberg School for Communication
The USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism comprises a School ofCommunication and a School of Journalism at the University of Southern California . It is led by Dean Ernest J. Wilson III, Ph.D....
and obtaining a Masters Degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1997, Wolfe has utilized his versatile game-calling skills in both college and pro sports. In 2005, Wolfe won his first Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Outstanding Achievement in Play-by-Play for his composite work on University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
football and basketball broadcasts.
Wolfe is currently working for the NFL Network. He does various roles for the network; including news updates, reporting and play-by-play announcing. Wolfe is entering his fifth season as the TV play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
preseason games. He also handled Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
preseason broadcasts on the Eagles Television Network in 2005. From 2003-2006 he worked as an NFL sideline reporter on Sports USA Radio. From 2002-07, he was a play-by-play announcer for NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
games on Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
and the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
.
Since the fall of 2009, Wolfe has broadcast college football and college basketball games for the Mtn.
MountainWest Sports Network
MountainWest Sports Network, informally known as the mtn. , is an American regional sports network dedicated to the Mountain West Conference.-History:...
.
Wolfe has worked for Universal Sports since 2009. He has done play-by-play for the 2009 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships, called the 2009 and 2010 World Table Tennis Championships and three seasons of World Cup Rowing, including the World Championships.
In 2008, Wolfe debuted as a play-by-play announcer for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
’s coverage of Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
basketball. In a partnership with WHAS-TV in Louisville, KY and the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
Athletic Department, Wolfe has been the TV play-by-play announcer for the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
Football and Basketball teams since 2005.
He was also the host of both coaches shows, Courtside with Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino is an American basketball coach. Since 2001, he has been the head coach at the University of Louisville. He has also served as head coach at Boston University, Providence College and the University of Kentucky, leading that program to the NCAA championship in 1996...
and Kickoff with Coach K. He also served as a play-by-play announcer for national broadcasts of NCAA football games on the Sports USA Radio Network
Sports USA Radio Network
The Sports USA Radio Network is the largest independent nationwide sports broadcasting radio network, specializing in live broadcasts of American football, specifically of the NCAA football Division I-A and National Football League...
.
In 2011, Wolfe started his 13th year as a play-by-play announcer in the Arena Football League. He did regional broadcasts of AFL games on Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
. During 2006, he was the play-by-play announcer for the National Cable Game of the Week on OLN
Versus
Versus, often abbreviated v. or v, vs. or vs may refer to:- Media :* Versus , a United States sports channel, to be renamed NBC Sports Network in 2012* Versus , a Japanese action/horror film...
. He has been the TV/Radio voice of the Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
since their first game in 2004.