Staff Directory
- Title:
- Director of Broadcast & News Content
- Email:
- Phone:
- (804) 287-6885
Bob Black, "Voice of the Spiders" and Director of Broadcast & News Content, and a voice synonymous with University of Richmond athletics, provides play-by-play for Spider football and men's basketball broadcasts on radio, television and SpiderTV. Black has called Spider athletic events since the 1983-84 basketball season, when Richmond made its first NCAA tournament appearance, and has been behind the microphone for every NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game that Richmond has played, including the 1988 and 2011 Sweet 16 appearances.
Black called the football team's run to the 2008 National Championship and the baseball team's appearance in the NCAA Super Regional in 2002. Black hosts a daily radio show, "The Sports Huddle" from 4-6pm on the Spiders' flagship station, ESPN Richmond. He also hosts weekly radio shows with head men's basketball coach Chris Mooney and head football coach Russ Huesman on ESPN Richmond and RichmondSpiders.com.
In March 2023, Black was honored by the Atlantic 10 Conference with the prestigious Bob Vetrone Media Award, which recognizes those whose service, professionalism and commitment have made a lasting contribution to the A10's student-athletes and institutions. In April 2023 he was also recognized by Richmond Athletics for his 40 years of service as the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award. Black is a four-time (1997, 2000, 2008, 2010) Virginia Sportscaster of the Year award winner.
Black joined the athletic department staff full time when he was named Director of Broadcast & Internet Properties in 2001. Black was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Communications in 2005, directing five full-time staff members in the athletic public relations department. Black’s responsibilities also include managing Spider radio, television and internet properties.
In September 2015, Black transitioned to the newly-created position of Director of Broadcast & News Content. During his 10-and-a-half years as Assistant AD for Communications, the public relations department enjoyed unprecedented growth in staffing and technology. Black has been the consistent force for the award-winning “SpiderTV”—Spider Athletics’ live video streaming and broadcast service, considered throughout collegiate athletics as a leader at the FCS/mid-major Division I level.
Prior to joining the athletic department on a full-time basis, Black was Program Director and afternoon sports talk show host at WRNL-AM. Black spent 11 years as play-by-play voice of the Triple-A Richmond Braves baseball team and served as morning and weekend sports anchor at CBS affiliate, WTVR Channel 6.
A 1981 graduate of Syracuse University, Black called the first football game played at SU's Carrier Dome, and also was a reporter at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, where he covered the historic United States ice hockey victory over the Soviet Union.
Black resides with his wife, Marge, in Glen Allen, Va. He has a son, Will, a 2017 graduate of Roanoke College and a daughter, Sarah, a 2012 graduate of Bridgewater (Va.) College. Both are graduates of Mills Godwin High School.
A baseball standout, Will helped lead the 2017 Maroons to their first-ever ODAC title, NCAA South Regional championship and appearance in the DIII College World Series. He was named to the CWS All-Tournament team and is a two-time All-ODAC catcher. He received his master's degree from Belmont University in 2019 and spent a year at UNC Greensboro as Broadcast Manager before joining Duke's ACC Network operation as a live events producer in 2020.
Sarah, a horse and digital photography enthusiast, rode on the equestrian team at Bridgewater and works in both the equine and photography fields at Stillmeadows Farm in Mechanicsville, Va. where she coaches and teaches, as well as coordinates competitive equestrian events.
