Longtime Wichita State Shockers Broadcaster Mike Kennedy Retires After Nearly 50 Years

Kennedy has been the voice of Shocker Nation since 1980, calling over 1,400 consecutive games before a cancer diagnosis temporarily sidelined him in 2024.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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After nearly 50 years as the play-by-play announcer for Wichita State University athletics, Mike Kennedy is retiring at the end of the 2026 season. Kennedy has been the voice of Shocker Nation since 1980, calling over 1,400 consecutive games before a cancer diagnosis temporarily sidelined him in 2024. The university plans to honor Kennedy on February 21 as the team hosts Temple.

Why it matters

Kennedy's retirement marks the end of an era for Wichita State athletics. As the long-time voice of the Shockers, he has been a fixture in the community and has built deep connections with generations of student-athletes and fans. His departure will be felt across Shocker Nation as they lose a beloved figure who has been synonymous with the program for nearly half a century.

The details

Kennedy began his play-by-play career with Wichita State in 1980 and went on to call basketball, baseball, volleyball, and football games over the course of his tenure. In February 2024, his impressive streak of 1,419 consecutive games was snapped when he had to undergo treatment for prostate cancer. Despite the setback, Kennedy remained committed to the program and is now set to call his final season before retiring.

  • Kennedy began his play-by-play career with Wichita State in 1980.
  • In February 2024, Kennedy's streak of 1,419 consecutive games was snapped when he had to undergo treatment for prostate cancer.
  • Wichita State plans to honor Kennedy on February 21, 2026 as the team hosts Temple.

The players

Mike Kennedy

The longtime play-by-play announcer for Wichita State University athletics, who has been the voice of Shocker Nation since 1980.

Wichita State University

The university where Kennedy has served as the play-by-play announcer for nearly 50 years, calling over 1,400 consecutive games across multiple sports.

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What they’re saying

“You stick to describing, trying to explain what's happening as best you can, and don't get too emotional about it. That's the approach I try to take with everything.”

— Mike Kennedy, Longtime Play-by-Play Announcer (ksn.com)

“My phone blew up for like two hours with texts and emails from fans, other broadcasters, especially former student athletes. That was really heartwarming because you kind of hope that when you do this over a long period of time, that you've made some connection and you've had some impact, but you never know for sure, and it was incredible.”

— Mike Kennedy, Longtime Play-by-Play Announcer (ksn.com)

“It was like I watched them group up and lean into where they are now or who they became. The older I got, the more that became really valuable to me. That's what I mean when I said I heard from all of those people when my cancer diagnosis got out, that you build relationships and they'll stay with you for a long time.”

— Mike Kennedy, Longtime Play-by-Play Announcer (ksn.com)

What’s next

Wichita State plans to honor Mike Kennedy on February 21, 2026 as the team hosts Temple.

The takeaway

Mike Kennedy's retirement marks the end of an era for Wichita State athletics, as the long-time voice of the Shockers departs after nearly 50 years of service. Kennedy's dedication and connection to the program and its student-athletes have made him a beloved figure in the Shocker Nation community, and his legacy will continue to resonate long after his final broadcast.