Produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications
“Voice of the Maryland Terrapins” Johnny Holliday was named the 2020 Maryland Sportscaster of the Year, the National Sports Media Association announced today.
Holliday, who also earned the honor in 2014 and 2018, is in his 42nd season as the beloved play-by-play voice of the University of Maryland's football and men's basketball teams.
The Miami native began his radio career as a disc jockey, working in top markets such as New York, Cleveland and San Francisco and being named America’s No. 1 DJ. He also served as the public address announcer for the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Warriors and Washington Bullets.
Moving to Washington in 1969, Holliday hosted the Washington Senators pregame show with Ted Williams while covering all of the D.C.-area teams. In 1979, he began broadcasting Maryland football and basketball games, and at age 83, he has now called more than 1,800 Terps games.
Holliday also spent 12 years as a television pregame/postgame host and occasional fill-in play-by-play announcer for the Washington Nationals on MASN. In March 2019, he added the role of sportscaster at NBC Washington (WRC-TV).
Among Holliday’s many other awards and honors are:
In addition, Holliday has hosted a charity golf tournament for the last 15 years that has raised more than $1.5 million to send students to a five-week, character-building camp each summer.
Holliday has been married to his wife, Mary Clare, for more than 60 years. They have three daughters and 11 grandchildren.
Maryland Today is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications for the University of Maryland community on weekdays during the academic year, except for university holidays.
Faculty, staff and students receive the daily Maryland Today e-newsletter. To be added to the subscription list, sign up here:
Subscribe