The run for Jim Nantz as the voice of the NCAA tournament on CBS came to an end on Monday night in Houston, as he called UConn’s 2023 national championship win over San Diego State.
Nantz, who’s been on the call for 354 tournament games in his career, told CBS that the magnitude of this final hoops broadcast isn’t lost on him. But he was just focused on making sure he called Monday night’s game just as smoothly as he had every other before it.
“I just want to have a nice, clean, high-camaraderie broadcast,” Nantz said. “In sync with (producer) Wolfie (Mark Wolff) and (director) Mark Grant, Grant and Raft and Tracy, just want it to be clean. All in sync. Take off the headset, go give the trophy away. It’s their moment, it’s not mine.”
Nantz will continue to be the voice of The Masters and the NFL on CBS, but at 63 years old, Nantz has a desire to spend more time with his family.
Jim’s journey to broadcasting began as a student at the University of Houston. He said he had a goal to be a broadcaster from the very beginning.
“I got to live out my dream because of college basketball,” he said. “Sure, I was a golfer and I went to Houston to be on the golf team. But, really, went to Houston to study communications and try to figure out a way to get trained to hopefully one day be noticed by CBS. That was what the goal was: to work for CBS.”
Nantz went through his usual broadcast prep one last time, and he said he’s looking forward to a great call to cap off a great career.
“The record will show the last name that I ever write down will be Jordan Hawkins,” he said. “Tonight will be Game 354, and I get to say, ‘Bookends. Raft. Front and back.’ It’s a great privilege.”
