Presented By The Ohio State Alumni Association of Van Wert & Paulding Counties
Paul Keels’ booming voice fills rooms and cars with an unmistakable beat. His crisp play-calling on the radio of Ohio State football and basketball never leaves the listener in doubt. It’s graphic, efficient, and spot-on.
Keels is now inextricably linked with the Buckeyes whose games he’s called for a score of years; through two national titles and three trips to the Final Four.
Players and coaches come and go. Yet schools’ longtime play-by-play announcers are as recognizable as the teams they cover. Fans think of them as longtime friends, those who share in the joy of victories and commiserate in the misery of defeats. They are forever part of the tapestry, drawing pictures of the familiar and the unfamiliar.
In this unimaginable world of digital conveniences, picture painting on radio is a disappearing art. For years, radio was a necessity. It kept fans abreast. Still, today, there are many vibrant announcers who’ve presided over their friendly microphones for thirty or more years. They get it. Each one is an artist with his own distinct brush and palette.
Keels doesn’t have any shtick or use signature phrases. He calls games naturally, no customized script. He’s always cognizant of the fundamentals. As teams break huddle for virtually every play from scrimmage, he gives the score and time remaining. Ditto for hoops on every change of possession. The broadcasts don’t turn into a talk show.
Paul's book "If These Walls Could Talk", recollects his years with Ohio State’s football and basketball teams. He shares stories of the coaches he’s covered, some of the big players with whom he interacted, and naturally, some of the big moments he witnessed.
AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1998-Present: WBNS Radio, Columbus, Ohio. Play by Play Announcer Ohio State Football & Basketball, Sports Anchor, Host of Coaches Shows.
1995-98: WLW Radio, Cincinnati, Ohio. Sports Director, Play by Play Announcer, University of Cincinnati Football & Basketball, & Cincinnati Bengals Football, Sports Anchor & Reporter.
1992-95: WHIO Radio, Dayton, Ohio. News Anchor, Morning Show Host.
1989-92 & 1987-88: WCKY Radio, Cincinnati,Ohio. Sports Director, Play by Play Announcer, University of Cincinnati Football & Basketball, Sports & News Anchor.
1988-89: UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, Washington D.C. Sports Anchor & Reporter, News Anchor.
1981-87: WWJ Radio, Detroit, Michigan. Play by Play Announcer, University of Michigan Football & Basketball, Sports Anchor & Reporter.
1980-81: WJR Radio, Detroit, Michigan. Play by Play Announcer, Detroit Pistons, Sports Anchor & Reporter.
1979-80: WLW Radio, Cincinnati, Ohio. News Anchor & Reporter, Sports Talk Show Host.
FREELANCE EXPERIENCE
Play by Play For “The Basketball Tournament” on ESPN TV.
Cincinnati Bengals Pre-Season Telecasts
Co-Host Buckeye Football Weekly TV Show
NFL & College Football Play by Play, Mutual-Westwood One Radio Network.
Michigan Panthers (USFL) Telecasts.
Cincinnati Reds Play by Play for Fox Sports Ohio.
University of Cincinnati Coaches TV Shows.
Voice Over Work for Ohio State Coaches Shows, The History of Ohio State Football, Buckeye Classics TV Shows, General Electric Training Video, Moeller High School Recruiting Video, Memorial Tournament Highlight Video, Wendy’s Champions for Children Video.
AWARDS
2006 Distinguished Alumni Award, St. John’s Elementary School, Deer Park, Ohio.
2007 Hometown Hero’s Award, Touchdown Club of Columbus.
2007 Induction, Radio/TV Broadcasting Hall of Fame of Ohio.
2007, 2010, 2011, and 2012 Ohio Sportscaster of the Year, National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters.
AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS
“Tales from The Buckeyes National Championship Season.” 2002.
“If These Walls Could Talk; Stories from the Ohio State Locker Room, Sidelines and Press Box.” 2018.
ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL. There are no exchanges or refunds unless the rare event of a cancelation. For canceled events, no action is required to receive your refund. Refunds will be processed to the original method of payment used at time of purchase.
