PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State Athletics and Learfield’s Washington State Sports Properties have announced Washington State alumnus Chris King as the new “Voice of the Cougs.” King will take over play-by-play duties for Cougar Football, Men’s Basketball and Baseball beginning with WSU Football’s season opener against Portland State on Aug. 31.
“We are thrilled to bring Chris King home and have him as the play-by-play voice of Cougar Athletics,” said WSU Director of Athletics Anne McCoy. “Chris is a Murrow College alum and we are eager for our fans to embrace him into Cougar Nation.”
King returns to Pullman – where he graduated from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication in 2009 – after gaining 13 years of Division I broadcasting experience in neighboring Idaho.
“This opportunity means the world to me,” King stated. “As a proud WSU and Murrow graduate who grew up listening to Bob Robertson, this is an absolute dream come true. I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of the outstanding broadcasters who came before me in this role and I’m so grateful for those who have been part of my journey along the way. The pride and passion of Cougs is truly second to none, and I can’t wait to share so many thrilling moments to come for WSU athletics. Go Cougs!”
After two years announcing women’s basketball at Boise State, King became the men’s basketball broadcaster for the Idaho Vandals in 2013 before adding football broadcasting duties in 2021. In addition to his play-by-play role, he also hosted weekly hour-long coaches shows and created and hosted the Vandal Insider Podcast.
In addition to his time calling college football and basketball, King also has extensive baseball experience, broadcasting Minor League Baseball for the Tri-City Dust Devils from 2012-2021. He spent three seasons before his time with the Dust Devils as the radio broadcaster for the Wenatchee AppleSox. Away from the radio booth he has worked in a communications role with the West Coast League since 2016, most recently as the league’s deputy commissioner.
King has twice been honored as the Idaho Sportscaster of the Year (2017, 2023) by the National Sports Media Association for his work with the Vandals.
“I’m beyond excited to have Chris as our new ‘Voice of the Cougs’ and welcome him back home to WSU,” Said Randy Schwaegler, Washington State Sports Properties General Manager. “This is a dream job for Chris, and he understands that this role isn’t only about calling games, but about bringing special moments to our loyal Cougar fanbase. He will be a great representative of our university, our brand, and our culture.”
Originally from Marysville, Wash., King is married to the former Carly Johnson, a native of Lake Forest Park, Wash., and they have a two-year old son, Cam. Carly, also a WSU graduate, was a member of the Cougar Rowing team from 2010-2014. The three currently reside in Pullman.
Washington State Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college athletics – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Washington State University Athletics and oversees all sponsorships and radio broadcast rights on behalf of the Cougars.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
