Joel Utley began his broadcasting career by playing pretend. An empty shoebox became a microphone stand with a cardboard microphone stuck through the top of it. When Utley slipped on earmuffs and acted as if they were headphones, it was as if he was an on-air sports radio personality.

But nothing has been more real to Utley than the broadcasting career he dreamed of in his childhood. Now entering his sixth decade as play-by-play announcer for the Kentucky Wesleyan (D-II) men’s basketball team, Utley has called more than 1,451 games in his career over a 51-season span.

‘I still get basketball withdrawal after the season,’ said Utley. ‘It’s hard to go without it.’

The Panthers haven’t had to go without Utley for years. The 72-year-old said he has been behind the microphone for every game since Dec. 2, 1961. Utley, who moved to WVJS radio in Owensboro, Ky., after a stint at WVLK in Lexington, Ky., remembers his first Wesleyan game ‘like it was yesterday.’

‘It was against San Francisco State,’ said Utley. ‘We were the only station to cover Wesleyan full time —road games, too. A lot of the other stations were committed to the University of Kentucky for their basketball program, so we got the exclusive rights (to Wesleyan) after a few years.’

With seven titles, UK is the most successful program in Division I men’s college basketball history. But Wesleyan has won eight national championships during Utley’s tenure, something the broadcaster said he can ‘still hang his hat on.’

Utley said that first national championship run was the most memorable. Down six points with 30 seconds to go in the regional semifinals against South Carolina State, he remembered the Panthers were able to force overtime and earn a victory. That game was the first step for Wesleyan to reach the national championship, in which it would face Southern Illinois.

The Panthers had already lost twice to SIU during the regular season, including a 20-point loss at home, Utley said. But in the third matchup, Wesleyan got revenge with a 54-51 victory. Utley said his friendships with many Wesleyan players made the win that much better.

‘We were on a first-name basis,’ Utley said. ‘I wasn’t much older than them back then, but I learned that going to practice and forming bonds with the players made for a better broadcast.’

It’s Utley’s work ethic that sets him apart, said longtime friend and Wesleyan sports information director Roy Pickerill. The broadcaster takes an ‘old-school approach,’ taking notes on players and making sure he leaves no detail unmentioned.

‘He reads up on a player, anything he can get his hands on,’ said Pickerill, who roomed with Utley on road trips before he became the school’s SID. ‘He’ll even spell out the last name of a player if it’s confusing. Joel does it all for the fans, so the fans have the best possible listening experience, and people appreciate that.’

Even basketball legends appreciate Utley. John Wooden, the head coach of the UCLA basketball dynasties of the ‘60s and ‘70s, wrote Utley a thank-you note for an interview he conducted with the coach for WVLK after the Bruins played Kentucky. He lost the note, but remains a UCLA fan to this day.

Legend or fan, Utley seems to leave an impression on everyone he meets. Former players, coaches and fellow broadcasters all love ‘The Voice of The Panthers,’ said KWC Athletic Director David Williams.

 Despite working as the athletic director for only three months, Williams said it’s not hard to pick up on Utley’s legendary status at Wesleyan.

‘There are so many people that have been associated with Kentucky Wesleyan from an athletic standpoint,’ Williams said. ‘But only a few have been associated with all those people. Joel is special because he makes us look special.’

That special feeling is shared between Utley and Wesleyan. After all, Wesleyan gave him the opportunity to fulfill his childhood dream of announcing games.

‘I’ve never considered my job work,’ Utley said. ‘It’s a labor of love, and I don’t want to stop anytime soon.’

nctoney@syr.edu

Published on January 23, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Nick: nctoney@syr.edu | @nicktoneytweets