R.I.P.: John Cloghessy, Veteran New York Sports Voice

John Cloghessy ('50-'25)

Veteran New York sports voice John Cloghessy passed away Tuesday at the age of 75.

Cloghessy's contributions helped shape modern sports radio, from pioneering all-sports formats at WFAN to launching ESPN Radio, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.

John Cloghessy career spanned decades in radio broadcasting, particularly in sports anchoring and play-by-play commentary. He was remembered by colleagues as a "big, brassy voice" and the "epitome of old school radio," often described as kind, encouraging, and family-oriented. 

Cloghessy was skilled in areas like news writing, sports play-by-play, breaking news delivery, and radio production using tools such as Adobe Audition.

Cloghessy's professional journey began in smaller markets, including stints in Piqua, Ohio, and Coldwater, Michigan, where he honed his skills in local radio. He gained significant experience calling play-by-play for University of Iowa football over nine years, as well as Seton Hall University basketball. 

His big break came in the late 1980s when he joined WFAN in New York, the nation's first all-sports radio station, which launched on July 1, 1987. As one of the original on-air talents at WFAN (alongside anchors like John Minko and Ed Randall), Cloghessy served for six years as an update anchor, reporter, and play-by-play voice for select events, including boxing matches. 

He was instrumental in establishing the station's high-energy sports format during its formative years, contributing to its evolution into a ratings powerhouse. Colleagues later placed him on WFAN's "Mt. Rushmore" of anchors for his foundational role.

Cloghessy's career shifted to the national level in the early 1990s. He became the first live voice on ESPN Radio when the network debuted on January 1, 1992, delivering the inaugural SportsCenter broadcast after a pre-recorded introduction by Chris "Boomer" ESI. 

From 1993 to 2017, Cloghessy worked as an update anchor for ABC Radio Networks, broadcasting hourly sportscasts to approximately 2,000 affiliates nationwide. He also contributed to SiriusXM from 2008 to 2016, anchoring on channels like Mad Dog Sports Radio, NFL Radio, Fantasy Sports, College Sports Nation, and MLB Network, while producing universal sportscasts aired at the top of every hour.