Mitch Holthus
Encyclopedia
Mitch Holthus, the "Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs", is the play-by-play announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs
on KCFX
and the Kansas City Chiefs Football Radio Network. Additionally, he hosts "Chiefs Insider" on television station KCTV
, Kansas City.
, where he was a multi-sport athlete in high school. It was also in high school he began his first tentative steps toward a radio career by announcing at his school games. After graduation Holthus attended Kansas State University
where he earned a journalism degree in 1979 and a degree in business administration from K-State in 1980. He is married to the former Tami Johnson of McPherson, Kansas
, a former Kansas State women's basketball player.
They have two chidren, Brian and Hayley. Holthus often sends a radio "shout out" to the Roxbury Fan Club, a greeting to members of his family that live near Roxbury, Kansas.
, Chicago Bears
, and Atlanta Falcons
Holthus has been with the Chiefs Radio Network since 1994, when he took over for Kevin Harlan
, making him the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in Chiefs history. He is best-known perhaps for his drawn-out, exuberant "Touchdown, KAN-SAS CITY!" whenever the Chiefs reach the end zone. In addition to his radio work, Holthus hosts "Minute With Mitch" and "Chiefs Insider" on select stations in the Chiefs television network. In addition to his work with the Kansas City Chiefs, Holthus is an announcer for Big 12 Conference
and Missouri Valley Conference
basketball
games on regional television. Holthus is a past President of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and serves on its board of directors.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on KCFX
KCFX
KCFX is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to the suburb of Harrisonville, Missouri, it serves the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. It first began broadcasting under the call sign KRYP...
and the Kansas City Chiefs Football Radio Network. Additionally, he hosts "Chiefs Insider" on television station KCTV
KCTV
KCTV channel 5 is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area that is licensed to the Missouri side. Owned by the Meredith Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KSMO-TV and the two share facilities on Shawnee Mission Parkway KCTV channel 5 is...
, Kansas City.
Personal life
Holthus is a native of Smith Center, KansasSmith Center, Kansas
Smith Center is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,665.-Geography:Smith Center is located at...
, where he was a multi-sport athlete in high school. It was also in high school he began his first tentative steps toward a radio career by announcing at his school games. After graduation Holthus attended Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
where he earned a journalism degree in 1979 and a degree in business administration from K-State in 1980. He is married to the former Tami Johnson of McPherson, Kansas
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
, a former Kansas State women's basketball player.
They have two chidren, Brian and Hayley. Holthus often sends a radio "shout out" to the Roxbury Fan Club, a greeting to members of his family that live near Roxbury, Kansas.
Broadcast career
Mitch Holthus became the radio voice of the Kansas State Wildcats in 1983, a job which he held until 1996. Holthus was a finalist for broadcasting jobs with several NFL teams in the early 1990s, including the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Holthus has been with the Chiefs Radio Network since 1994, when he took over for Kevin Harlan
Kevin Harlan
Kevin Harlan is an American television sports announcer. The son of former Green Bay Packers executive Bob Harlan, he currently broadcasts NFL and college basketball games on CBS. Harlan is also a play-by-play announcer for the NBA on TNT...
, making him the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in Chiefs history. He is best-known perhaps for his drawn-out, exuberant "Touchdown, KAN-SAS CITY!" whenever the Chiefs reach the end zone. In addition to his radio work, Holthus hosts "Minute With Mitch" and "Chiefs Insider" on select stations in the Chiefs television network. In addition to his work with the Kansas City Chiefs, Holthus is an announcer for Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
and Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
games on regional television. Holthus is a past President of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and serves on its board of directors.
Awards
- 8-time Kansas Sportscaster of the Year
- 9-time winner Kansas Broadcasters Association best play-by-play sportscast.
- 1996 "Hod Humiston Award of Excellence" in Kansas Sportscasting.
- 2007 awarded the "John Sanders Spirit of the Valley" by the Missouri Valley Conference.