John Coffey, known as the “Voice of the Bearcats, | Northwest Missouri State University
John Coffey, known as the “Voice of the Bearcats, | Northwest Missouri State University
John Coffey, known as the “Voice of the Bearcats,” was recognized on Saturday at Bearcat Stadium for his 500th consecutive broadcast of a Northwest Missouri State University football game. Coffey reached this milestone during the Bearcats’ 21-14 win against Missouri Southern State University on September 20 in Joplin.
The university held a ceremony for Coffey before its home game against the University of Central Oklahoma, which ended in a 38-16 victory for Northwest.
“Doing play-by-play is something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was a little kid, and it’s a privilege to do that and cover a Bearcat program with as many successes as it has had,” Coffey said. “It has been a lot of fun, and I’m fortunate I’m able to do that.”
Coffey graduated from Northwest in 1982 and began his radio career at KXCV, the university’s National Public Radio affiliate, as a student reporter. After graduation, he worked briefly as news director at a radio station in Fairbury, Nebraska. He returned to Maryville in 1983 to work at KNIM Radio and started calling Bearcat football games in 1985. Since then, he has announced every game, including all ten of the team’s NCAA Division II national championship appearances.
In 1999, Coffey rejoined KXCV-KRNW to help start the Bearcat Radio Network and has served as its station manager since 2019.
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