Joe D'Ambrosio
Encyclopedia
Joe D'Ambrosio is an American sports broadcaster and play-by-play announcer.
,” D'Ambrosio has been the play-by-play announcer for the University of Connecticut
’s football and men's basketball games on WTIC (AM)
NewsTalk 1080 (www.wtic.com) since 1992. He also broadcasts select UConn baseball, soccer, and women's basketball games. In April 2011, D'Ambrosio called his third NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
with the University of Connecticut. He has been the play-by-play voice for a total of seven NCAA basketball national championships, including his years as the voice of the UConn women's basketball team
.
He and colleague Kevin Nathan alternate hosting duties for the long-running weeknight sports call-in show “Sports Talk,” also on WTIC. Additionally, he is seen on WVIT-TV where he provides weekly “Husky Insider” updates during football and basketball seasons, and where he also fills in as sports anchor.
D’Ambrosio is heard nationally on ESPN radio
as a SportsCenter
update anchor. He has been affiliated with ESPN radio since 1996, and during his tenure there has hosted shows including MLB on ESPN Radio
and Countdown to Kickoff, and he has covered major sporting events including several Super Bowls, World Series, and Major League Baseball All-Star games. For more than ten years, he has held the unusual distinction of being employed by the corporations owning ABC
(ESPN), NBC
(WVIT-TV), and CBS
(WTIC AM) simultaneously. "Joe D" began his career on WLIS radio in Old Saybrook, Connecticut
, where he worked as a DJ and hosted the popular oldies show "Twilight Time." He was also their sports announcer and started broadcasting for the Huskies while with WLIS.
In April 2009, D'Ambrosio joined the broadcast team of the New Britain Rock Cats
, doing both color commentary and play-by-play alongside long-time Rock Cats Director of Broadcasting, Jeff Dooley. These games are broadcast on WTIC-FM
96.5's HD2 channel and are streamed live on www.wtic.com, with select games during the season airing on WTIC (AM)
NewsTalk 1080.
. In 2003, Dick Vitale
named D’Ambrosio to his "All-Cawood Ledford
Team," Vitale's own "Sweet Sixteen" list of the best college play-by-play announcers.
Career
Known as “the Voice of the HuskiesConnecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
,” D'Ambrosio has been the play-by-play announcer for the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
’s football and men's basketball games on WTIC (AM)
WTIC (AM)
WTIC is a 50,000-watt radio station operating out of Hartford, Connecticut, broadcasting news and talk radio. Its signal, located at 1080 kHz, can be picked up throughout southern New England by day and over several states as well as parts of Canada by night...
NewsTalk 1080 (www.wtic.com) since 1992. He also broadcasts select UConn baseball, soccer, and women's basketball games. In April 2011, D'Ambrosio called his third NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
with the University of Connecticut. He has been the play-by-play voice for a total of seven NCAA basketball national championships, including his years as the voice of the UConn women's basketball team
Connecticut Huskies women's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represents the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut in NCAA women's basketball competition. Under head coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have won 7 NCAA Division I national championships, advanced to 12 Final Fours, and won over 30 Big...
.
He and colleague Kevin Nathan alternate hosting duties for the long-running weeknight sports call-in show “Sports Talk,” also on WTIC. Additionally, he is seen on WVIT-TV where he provides weekly “Husky Insider” updates during football and basketball seasons, and where he also fills in as sports anchor.
D’Ambrosio is heard nationally on ESPN radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
as a SportsCenter
ESPN Radio SportsCenter
ESPN Radio SportsCenter has sports updates two or three times an hour during key time slots, usually by separate anchors. Weekdays from 6am to 4pm Eastern, there are two updates an hour, at the top of the hour and 30 minutes past...
update anchor. He has been affiliated with ESPN radio since 1996, and during his tenure there has hosted shows including MLB on ESPN Radio
MLB on ESPN Radio
Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio is the brand name for exclusive play-by-play broadcast presentation of Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio...
and Countdown to Kickoff, and he has covered major sporting events including several Super Bowls, World Series, and Major League Baseball All-Star games. For more than ten years, he has held the unusual distinction of being employed by the corporations owning ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
(ESPN), NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
(WVIT-TV), and CBS
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
(WTIC AM) simultaneously. "Joe D" began his career on WLIS radio in Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Old Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,367 at the 2000 census. It contains the incorporated borough of Fenwick, as well as the census-designated places of Old Saybrook Center and Saybrook Manor.-History:...
, where he worked as a DJ and hosted the popular oldies show "Twilight Time." He was also their sports announcer and started broadcasting for the Huskies while with WLIS.
In April 2009, D'Ambrosio joined the broadcast team of the New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
, doing both color commentary and play-by-play alongside long-time Rock Cats Director of Broadcasting, Jeff Dooley. These games are broadcast on WTIC-FM
WTIC-FM
WTIC-FM is a radio station primarily serving the Hartford, Connecticut market, though its signal can be picked up throughout most of Connecticut and into Springfield, Massachusetts. It currently broadcasts a Hot Adult Contemporary format. It is located on the dial at 96.5 MHz...
96.5's HD2 channel and are streamed live on www.wtic.com, with select games during the season airing on WTIC (AM)
WTIC (AM)
WTIC is a 50,000-watt radio station operating out of Hartford, Connecticut, broadcasting news and talk radio. Its signal, located at 1080 kHz, can be picked up throughout southern New England by day and over several states as well as parts of Canada by night...
NewsTalk 1080.
Honors
He has been named Connecticut Sportscaster of the Year six times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters AssociationNational Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, or NSSA, is an organization of sports media members in the United States. It constitutes the American chapter of the International Sports Press Association ....
. In 2003, Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
named D’Ambrosio to his "All-Cawood Ledford
Cawood Ledford
Cawood Ledford was a longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the University of Kentucky basketball and football teams...
Team," Vitale's own "Sweet Sixteen" list of the best college play-by-play announcers.