University of Wyoming’s play-by-play announcer for both football and basketball will no longer be doing the broadcasts.
Reece Monaco, who took over calling UW football games this year after broadcaster Dave Walsh retired after 38 years, announced on Facebook that he was no longer employed by the university.
“It was with a heavy and broken heart that I will no longer be behind the mic,” Monaco said.
“Learfield and UW have decided to move in a different direction and unfortunately I am not part of that,” he said.
Monaco has been the voice of the Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball team since 2020 and did play-by-play duties for Cowgirls basketball for 19 years
He was also the sideline reporter on football broadcasts for 10 years.
“Just sad it ended,” Monaco told Cowboy State Daily on Saturday morning.
Walsh Unaware
Former Cowboys’ announcer Dave Walsh, who is now a columnist with Cowboy State Daily, was unaware of the change.
He said he was not contacted about the change and would not be re-entering the booth.
Highlights
In Monaco’s Facebook post, he said the greatest highlights of his professional life were associated with Wyoming sports.
“Thank you to all of the Wyoming fans who have supported me over the years as we continue to support these great student athletes and coaches in future season,” he said. “Thank you for the memories.”
The Cowboys play their last home game of the season on Saturday evening against Boise State.
Stroke
Monaco suffered a stroke earlier at the NCAA basketball tournament last spring.
In an emotional video he recorded for the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, he said he was worried about the impacts of the stroke, especially in regards to his career.
“What scared me the most was I make my living with my voice and my ability to process the action of basketball and football games as quickly as I can,” he said, while tearing up.
“If I wasn’t able to do that, I’m not qualified to do anything else,” Monaco said.
Emails to the university on Saturday were not returned by publication time.
