Gary Hahn, longtime voice of NC State, to retire at end of basketball season
Posted November 1, 2023 4:22 p.m. EDT
Updated November 2, 2023 12:17 p.m. EDT
Gary Hahn, the longtime radio voice of NC State, will retire at the end of this men's basketball season after more than three decades calling Wolfpack football and men's basketball games.
Hahn, 71, announced his plans at the end of the Wolfpack's football victory against Clemson on Saturday. He's been calling games since 1990, totaling more than 400 football games and 1,000 men's basketball games.
"It has not been an easy decision for me to make, but it has been a very well thought out and prayerful decision," Hahn said on the air.
Hahn said his health is good and he was not forced out by Learfield.
"This is my decision, mine alone," Hahn said. "And my reasons for this are personal. But I will share this with you: We all have a limited time on this Earth.
"And at the end of this basketball season, I'll be pushing 72 years old. So if you use football terminology, I'm basically in the fourth quarter of my life. And there are some other important things I would like to do and need to do with the time the Lord has planned for me. This decision is going to give me the opportunity to do those things and to finish my life strong."
Hahn called games for Louisville, Ohio State and Alabama before joining NC State. He called Louisville's NCAA title in 1980 and Ohio State's 1995 Rose Bowl appearance. Hahn graduated from Butler and began his career in local television in Indianapolis.
"We thank him for the role he has played in connecting our passionate Wolfpack fans to the excitement and spirit of game days whether they are in Raleigh or around the country," said Kyle Winchester, general manager of Wolfpack Sports Properties. "We appreciate his tireless commitment to serving our NC State teams, coaches, fans and the community."
Hahn was suspended for two weeks at the end of the 2022 football season for remarks he made about "illegal aliens" during NC State's bowl game in San Antonio. He missed two basketball games.
Hahn has called games under five head coaches in football: Dick Sheridan, Mike O'Cain, Chuck Amato, Tom O'Brien and Dave Doeren. Doeren tied the school record for coaching victories in the Clemson win with Hahn on the call.
And he's been on the broadcasts through five men's basketball coaches: Les Robinson, Herb Sendek, Sidney Lowe, Mark Gottfried and Kevin Keatts.
"I'm thankful that I'm still blessed with the ability to call a game at an above-average level, so I get to bow out while I still have my skills," Hahn said. "That's important to me."
NC State will honor Hahn at a men's basketball game this season.
"Everything I've done in the last 34 years has been based on two things, representing NC State and our advertisers at the highest level and serving you the listener," Hahn said on the football broadcast. "So I wanted to let you know because at least 90% of you have been so supportive and loyal over the years and I wanted you to hear it from me."
