University of Washington Hires New Basketball Radio Voice
The Huskies announce Nick Koop as the new radio play-by-play announcer for the upcoming basketball season.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball
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The University of Washington has named Nick Koop as the new radio play-by-play announcer for Huskies basketball. Koop will serve as the voice of the team on KJR radio, succeeding Tony Castricone following his departure for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Why it matters
The hire fills a critical broadcast vacancy at the University of Washington just ahead of the new season. Koop brings experience from his decade-long tenure covering UCLA athletics.
Nick Koop arrives in Seattle after a 10-year tenure at UCLA. He graduated from Boston University in 2014 and steps in after the team concluded the previous season with a 15-17 record.
The players
Nick Koop
He is the newly appointed radio play-by-play announcer for the University of Washington men's basketball team.
Tony Castricone
He is the former University of Washington radio voice who left the position to join the broadcast team for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
University of Washington
This is a public research university in Seattle that operates a major collegiate athletics program.
The details
Koop, a native of Roseville, California, will broadcast games for the Huskies from Alaska Airlines Arena and on the road. The transition follows the exit of Tony Castricone, who left the Montlake athletics program earlier this summer.
Timeline
Tony Castricone left the University of Washington in Summer 2026.
The university announced the hiring of Nick Koop on October 20, 2026.
Nick Koop will call his first game on October 25, 2026.
The men's basketball season opens against Colgate on November 2, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The hiring of a new radio voice is a pivotal administrative move that stabilizes the team's media presence heading into the season. This change mirrors the broader movement of broadcasting talent that often follows the departure of key staff to professional franchises.
Listeners can tune in to KJR radio to hear Koop's first broadcast for the program on October 25. His debut comes just over a week before the team attempts to improve upon last season's 15-17 record.
The takeaway
The addition of an experienced broadcaster provides continuity for the program as it transitions into a new season. Fans should tune into the KJR broadcast to catch the first official game of the new commentary era.
What happens next
Nick Koop will call his first game on October 25, 2026, followed by the regular season home opener against Colgate on November 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the latest news from the court, visit Seattle Basketball.
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