CHICAGO (October 25, 2019) – Loyola University Chicago men's basketball fans will be able to tune in to every Ramblers game for free during the 2019-20 season by listening through the Ramblers' official website, LoyolaRamblers.com, it was announced today. This marks the first season since 2016-17 that Loyola will have an audio broadcast of at least some of its men's basketball games.
As part of the Loyola men's basketball game day broadcasts, fans will also be able to listen to pregame and postgame shows.
Serving as the men's basketball play-by-play voice on the audio broadcasts will be Jeff Hagedorn, who shares a unique affinity with Loyola. A 1990 graduate of Loyola, he currently serves as director of major gifts and has been director of development at his alma mater since 2014. His previous broadcasting experience was with the NBA's Houston Rockets and WNBA's Houston Comets from 1999-2005, and he was also the voice of the Ramblers in 2016-17.
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with Learfield IMG College and Loyola Athletics on the broadcasts this season," Hagedorn said. "I began my career by calling play-by-play of Rambler men's basketball games as a student at Loyola over 30 years ago. This is home for me."
"Jeff is perfectly suited for this role and has the unique opportunity to call games for his alma mater," said Tom Boman, vice president, broadcast operations for Learfield IMG College, which manages all broadcast aspects for Loyola Chicago as part of the rights relationship. "We're excited to have him join the broadcast team and know Rambler fans will enjoy his play-by-play style."
Chris Sparks, a former assistant basketball coach at Valparaiso University and Utah Valley University, who was a member of Valpo's NCAA Sweet 16 team as a player in 1998, will team with Hagedorn to serve as the primary color analyst on the audio broadcasts. Sparks has served as an analyst on ESPN college basketball broadcasts and was the Ramblers' radio color commentator during the 2016-17 season.
Loyola has put together one of its most successful two-year stretches in program history, earning back-to-back postseason berths, capturing consecutive Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship, and matching a program record with 52 victories.
The Ramblers open the season November 5 when they host UC Davis.
Rambler Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield IMG College team representing Loyola Chicago. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform, and its extensive commerce, experiential and media solutions create ultimate opportunities for fan engagement. The Learfield IMG College suite of services includes licensing and multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, broadcasting, digital and social media; ticket sales and professional concessions expertise; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue technology systems. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company has long had the privilege of being an advocate for intercollegiate athletics and the student-athlete experience. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
