Longtime UCLA broadcaster Chris Roberts passed away “peacefully in his Glendora home” on Friday morning due to complications of Parkinson’s disease, the school announced.
He was 74.
Roberts was the play-by-play broadcaster for UCLA football and men’s basketball for 23 seasons, starting in 1992 and finishing in 2015. He’s the longest tenured play-by-play broadcaster in UCLA history, tied with Fred Hessler.
Roberts called 16 bowl games for the Bruins football program, and broadcast 19 trips to the NCAA Tournament for the men’s basketball team.
Roberts was a voter for both the Heisman Trophy and the John R. Wooden Award. He’s the author of two books: Stadium Stories: UCLA Bruins and UCLA Football Vault.
The Bruins broadcasting legend was nominated for countless awards and was named as a member of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
Our thoughts are with Roberts’ family and the UCLA community during this difficult time.