Friday, August 1, 2003

FIU names Phil Schoen as Football play-by-play announcer

• 2003 FIU Football Schedule

ong-time network play-by-play announcer Phil Schoen (pronounced SHANE) has been named as the new FIU football play-by-play voice for the 2003 season. Schoen replaces Bill Zimpfer who has decided to forgo the weekly commute from his home in Pennsylvania, in order to spend more quality time with family.

“I’ve known Bill for a long time, since he worked at Penn State, and I think he’s one of the best announcers in the game,” said Schoen. “It’s an honor to take over the microphone from someone I respect so much. I don’t think of this as replacing Bill, but as building on the excitement he helped create in that amazing inaugural season.”

Schoen, who got his start in the late 1980s as a basketball and football commentator at Rutgers University and then as a football announcer at his alma mater Bowling Green in 1990-91, is most recognized for his work in the sport of soccer.

From 1996 through 2001, Schoen was the primary soccer announcer on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, working the World Cup, MLS, U.S. Cup, Champions League and NCAA Finals. In July 2000, TheSportingNews.com called him, “the best English-language play-by-play man in the country.”

“I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season,” Schoen said. “There is something special about the passion that surrounds college football and I want to convey that emotion to every Golden Panther fan that tunes in. Having grown up in South Florida, I know where FIU has come from and where it wants to go. This is a big responsibility, but it’s an enjoyable one as well.”

Schoen graduated from North Miami Beach Senior High School in 1981, and returned to the area in 1992 to work at Sports Radio 560 WQAM. He stayed with the station until 1998 while hosting a variety of sports talk shows and anchoring pre- and post-game shows for the Marlins, Panthers and Heat.

During this time, he also worked for Sunshine Network and SportsChannel Florida, including coverage of FIU basketball and soccer telecasts.

Since late last year, he has been an announcer and producer at Gol TV, hosting news programming and serving as primary play-by-play announcer for the network’s coverage of international games and league matches, including Italy’s prestigious Serie A.

“I’ve known Phil Schoen for a long time and have been most impressed with his professionalism. He’s done network work and is well known in the area. I know Phil is excited about this opportunity and we’re excited about having him,” said FIU head coach Don Strock.

Schoen will join FIU’s WAXY-790 English-speaking broadcast team, which includes color commentator Randy Kassewitz and Adam Levinson on the sidelines and studio host. Schoen makes his FIU debut on Saturday, Sept. 6 when the Golden Panthers travel to Terre Haute, Ind. for a road contest against Indiana State.