Evan Hughes was named the Virginia Tech Sports Network's director of broadcasting on Thursday, the school announced.
Hughes, a 2021 graduate of Tech's School of Communication, served as the voice of Hokies women's basketball and baseball for the last five seasons. He fills the role previously held by Zach Mackey, who announced his departure on Aug. 5. An Iowa alumnus, Mackey is moving to Chicago with his wife, McKenna, and expanding his role with the Big Ten Network.
"Zach Mackey has done so much for Virginia Tech in his four years here, and I am not in this position without the care and guidance I've received from him," Hughes told Tech Sideline. "Our fans see the work he does on the mic. A lot of what he does is the day-to-day operation of overseeing the Virginia Tech Sports Network. I cannot begin to thank him enough for everything he's done for me and for Virginia Tech."
In his new role, Hughes will be the play-by-play voice for Tech men's basketball alongside Virginia Tech Hall of Famer Mike Burnop. He'll also serve as the Hokies' pregame and postgame host and sideline reporter for football games — called by the legendary duo of Bill Roth and Burnop — and anchor Tech Talk Live, the weekly head coach radio show with Burnop.
"I can remember being 10 years old and my dad telling me we had to wait for Bill and Mike to finish a postgame show so I could get a picture with Mike," Hughes said. "He is one of the most significant people to ever impact Virginia Tech. I feel beyond honored and privileged to now share the mic with him. It's a dream come true!"
Over the last five years, Hughes called countless memorable moments. Tech women's basketball and baseball were a combined 289-155 (.651) with him in the booth.
On the hardwood, he witnessed two ACC championships, an incredible journey to the 2023 Final Four, three other NCAA Tournament appearances and a Hall of Fame career from Elizabeth Kitley.
On the diamond, he guided Hokies fans through baseball's ACC regular-season title in 2022, a campaign capped off by hosting NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals, along with this spring's trip to the NCAA Tournament.
In addition to his on-air responsibilities, including select ACC Network Extra broadcasts, Hughes hosted the all-encompassing Hokie Sports Insider Podcast and emceed events like Tech football's annual signing day celebration.
Hughes is a former TSL Podcast host, too. He joined Tech Sideline in August 2018 and hosted 144 episodes — from 40 to 184 — during his time as a Virginia Tech student, from men's basketball's Sweet Sixteen run to football's epic six-overtime victory over North Carolina.
The Rockville, Va., native was the 2021 Jim Nantz Award winner, an accolade presented to the top collegiate broadcaster in the country by the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America (STAA). He also spent three years calling 186 summer league baseball games as the voice of the St. Cloud Rox in Minnesota, where he was the 2018 Northwoods League Broadcaster of the Year.
Note from Tech Sideline Founder and General Manager Will Stewart:
Five years ago, when Evan Hughes was hired to call baseball and women’s basketball games for Virginia Tech, I wrote, “[Evan’s] true value lies in what he brings to a community over time, in the relationships he builds, and the effect he has on people.” That’s a big reason why Evan is stepping into this newer, larger role for Playfly and Virginia Tech.
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Sure, that’s true, but he also does an amazing job calling basketball games.
Evan’s got a clear, descriptive, rapid-fire delivery that paints a picture of exactly what’s happening on a basketball court. He doesn’t undersell big moments, and he doesn’t oversell the mundane. If you’ve never heard him call a game, you’re in for a treat.
Evan’s other skills are what will make him successful in his expanded role with Playfly, in the other day-to-day tasks that you’ll never see and which don’t get airtime on the radio. He’s fair, honest and enthusiastic, and those traits will help him succeed as he takes on more responsibility.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been five years since Evan graduated from Virginia Tech. Speaking selfishly, I never want Evan to leave Blacksburg, and I know a lot of you reading this feel the same way. This new career opportunity will keep him close to us for the foreseeable future.
Congratulations, Evan!
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