Knoche Selected as Color Analyst for Terp Men's Basketball
10/1/1999 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 1, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Chris Knoche, a former player and head coach at American University who has worked in radio and television for the past two years, has been named the color analyst for the Terp men's basketball radio broadcasts, athletic director Deborah A. Yow announced Friday.
Knoche, 42, replaces Greg Manning, who last month was named athletic director at Georgia State University after 13 seasons on the Maryland radio broadcast team. Knoche will be paired with veteran broadcaster Johnny Holliday, who is in his 21st season as "Voice of the Terps."
"We're pleased to add someone of Chris Knoche's impressive background to our radio broadcast team," said Yow. "His experience as a player and coach at the collegiate level, coupled with his enthusiasm for the game and for Maryland basketball, will serve him and our department well. I think he is an ideal fit for our broadcast crew."
Knoche spent 17 seasons at American, playing the 1979-80 and '80-81 seasons under current Terp coach Gary Williams before moving into an assistant coaching position and later serving seven seasons (1991-97) as the Eagles' head coach. He has worked 40-50 games each of the past two seasons as a color commentator, including stints on the Ivy League Game of the Week television package and the Big Ten Game of the Week on Westwood One/CBS Radio. He also has worked telecasts for ESPN and HTS in addition to doing radio and television analysis for George Mason University games.
"Chris Knoche brings an outstanding background as a player, coach and fan to our basketball broadcasts," said Williams, the Terps' 11th-year head coach. "Being able to work with Johnny Holliday, Chris provides the opportunity for Maryland fans to listen to someone who has very good experience as a color commentator. More important, he is someone who has a great feel for the game of basketball. I have known Chris as a player and a coach for more than 20 years. He is an exciting addition to our basketball program."
Said Knoche, "I grew up in Fairfax and have always been a huge Maryland fan. When I was coaching, I always circled the Maryland game on the schedule. The University of Maryland is a great place, a great institution and a great program, and I'm excited to be a part of it. The fact I get to watch Gary Williams, a friend and mentor who also is one of the premier coaches in America, is exciting as well. I'm looking forward to getting started."
Flagship stations on Maryland's radio network are WBAL (1090 AM) in Baltimore and WMAL (630 AM) in Washington, D.C. Maryland's radio network is operated by Learfield Sports of Jefferson City, Mo.
