John Rooke
John Rooke is an award-winning broadcaster, currently serving in several broadcast capacities, including 20 years as the play-by-play voice for Providence College basketball; Big East Conference football and basketball play-by-play for ESPNU, ESPN Regional Television and the ISP Sports Network; stadium voice for the New England Patriots and New England Revolution; host for Inside the Big East on ESPNU and several regional sports networks and local TV stations; and talk host for the ESPN Radio Network and WEEI Radio in Boston.
Personal life
A 1981 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Rooke also holds a position as adjunct Professor in journalism at Emerson College in Boston. Additionally, he works as a commercial voice artist. He has also served as a gubernatorial communications director, a program director/manager for a major communications company, and as a television sports anchor for 25 years in several markets.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, John currently resides in Rumford, RI - where he has been located since 1988. Among his current duties and clients, he serves as a Development Director for a local children's charity, A Wish Come True, Inc., and conceived, planned and launched the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame. His wife, Hanna, is a television news producer at NBC affiliate WJAR in Providence, an avid blogger and an author of books for teenagers. They have two boys (Ryan and Austin) and a dog (Ginger).
Media Background
John's media background includes working for these broadcast stations/media companies since 1979:
- KUT-FM Austin;
- KLBJ-AM Austin;
- KTRH-AM Houston;
- KCEN-TV Temple/Waco;
- KSAT-TV San Antonio;
- WOAI-AM San Antonio;
- KRNN-AM San Antonio;
- WPRI-TV Providence;
- WJAR-TV Providence;
- WLWC-TV Providence;
- New England Sports Network;
- WLVI-TV Boston;
- WVIT-TV Hartford;
- WCBS-TV New York;
- WPRO-AM Providence;
- WSKO-AM/FM Providence;
- WEEI-AM Boston;
- WAMG-AM/WLLH-AM Boston;
- WEEI-FM Providence;
- Cox Communications, Rhode Island;
- ESPN Radio Network;
- ESPNU;
- ESPN Regional Television;
- ISP Sports Network
As a play-by-play announcer for television and radio, John has called game broadcasts for these teams/leagues: Texas High School Football (Central & South Texas); Texas Longhorns (women's basketball); San Antonio Spurs; San Antonio Dodgers (now Missions); UTSA Roadrunners; Trinity Tigers; San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL); St. Mary's Rattlers; Providence Friars; Pawtucket Red Sox; Boston Red Sox (NESN); New England Revolution (MLS); Boston College Eagles; Big East Conference (football, basketball, soccer); URI Rams (basketball); Brown Bears (football); Atlantic Coast Conference (football)