Tony Haynes to Retire After 28 Years as Voice of Wolfpack Sports
The Wolfpack Sports Network announced Friday that longtime broadcaster Tony Haynes will retire at the conclusion of the upcoming football season, closing a remarkable 28-year career covering N.C. State athletics.
An N.C. State alumnus, Haynes joined the network in 1998 and became one of the most recognizable voices of Wolfpack sports. Over the years, he served as a football pre- and postgame host, sideline reporter, men’s basketball analyst, baseball play-by-play broadcaster, and host of the football and men’s basketball coaches’ shows on radio and television.
In a statement, Haynes reflected on his career with gratitude:
“I’d like to thank everyone at N.C. State, including administrators, coaches and student-athletes, for giving me the access required to provide the best possible information for our fans. The staff at Learfield and Wolfpack Sports Properties has been tremendous, as well. It has been a pleasure working alongside my teammates on the broadcast crew. Together, we have collected memories that will last a lifetime. Finally, to the fans, your passion for the Pack is what makes the N.C. State experience so unique and special. Thank you for your support these last 28 years.”
Originally from Lynchburg, Virginia, Haynes graduated from N.C. State in 1984 after serving as sports director for student radio station WKNC. Inspired by legendary Wolfpack broadcasters Wally Ausley and Garry Dornburg as a teenager, he went on to build a distinguished career in sports media.
Before joining the Wolfpack Sports Network, Haynes worked at WKIX as a sports reporter and DJ beginning in 1984, later spending more than a decade with the North Carolina News Network (1989–2000). He also covered Duke athletics, serving as a football sideline reporter starting in 1987 and joining the Blue Devils’ men’s basketball radio crew in 1993.
Kyle Winchester, General Manager of Wolfpack Sports Properties, praised Haynes’ impact:
“Tony has been a fantastic ambassador for N.C. State for almost three decades. His professionalism, knowledge of the game and passion for the Wolfpack have been evident to all who listened to him. He’s a great broadcaster, and we relish this opportunity to celebrate his contributions to the Pack.”
Haynes’ retirement marks the second major transition for N.C. State’s broadcast team in as many years. In 2023, longtime play-by-play announcer Gary Hahn announced his retirement after 35 years, with Matt Chazanow stepping into the role and working alongside Haynes this past season.
Leave a Reply