Ryan Peter Ruocco | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1986-11-18)November 18, 1986 (age 39) Fishkill, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Loyola University Maryland (transferred), Fordham University (B.A. inCommunications) |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Employer(s) | ESPN,ESPN Radio,YES Network,DAZN |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Teams | |
| Genre | Play-by-play |
| Sports |
|
Ryan Ruocco (/ˈruːkoʊ/; born November 18, 1986) is an American television and radiosportscaster. He serves as a play-by-play announcer for theNBA,WNBA, and women's college basketball onESPN, and theNew York Yankees andBrooklyn Nets onYES Network. He previously hosted the podcastR2C2 with former Yankees all-star pitcherCC Sabathia as well as theStephen A. Smith & Ryan Ruocco Show onESPN Radio 98.7 FM.
Ruocco is a native ofFishkill, New York.[1] He is a graduate ofHackley School inTarrytown, New York, andFordham University.[2][3]
As a student at Fordham, Ruocco called Rams football and basketball onWFUV.[citation needed]
Ruocco serves as a lead television play-by-play broadcaster for theNBA,WNBA, andNCAA Women’s College Basketball onESPN.[4]
Ruocco began working forESPN andESPN New York 98.7 FM in 2008 as a contributor onThe Michael Kay Show and as a substitute host on variousESPN Radio shows. He was a fill-in host prior to 2008 for ESPN Radio and anchoredESPN Radio SportsCenter and was a correspondent for theNFL Network. He also called college football and basketball games forESPN Radio[2] and also does play-by-play duties forThe NFL on ESPN Radio beginning in 2013 with three other play-by-play menMarc Kestecher,Sean McDonough, andBill Rosinski.[5]
In 2020, Ruocco was the first play-by-play announcer to use the correct pronouns forNew York Liberty starLayshia Clarendon, who is non-binary, when describing Clarendon’s baskets and rebounds, compelling a progressive and inclusive shift for gender norms in sports.[6]
In 2023,ESPN formed a second core NBA broadcast team for the2023–24 season, with Ruocco as play-by-play and former NBA playersRichard Jefferson andJJ Redick as analysts. The team would call theNBA Sunday Showcase series on ABC (replacingMark Jones andDoris Burke), plus work together for other marquee events throughout the season and into the NBA playoffs.[7]
Ruocco joined theYES Network in 2007 as theNew York Yankees statistician. He is the secondary play-by-play television announcer for theBrooklyn Nets andNew York Yankees. He joined the Nets broadcast team in 2011. He also does select college basketball games for YES and was the host ofThis Week in Football for the YES Network, which focused on theNew York Giants andNew York Jets. His analysts wereHoward Cross, Gary Myers, andRoss Tucker.[8][9]
Ruocco debuted as a lead play-by-play broadcaster for the YES Network when he called a series between theNew York Yankees andHouston Astros in June 2015.[10]
During the 2019 baseball season, Ruocco stepped up as the main voice of theNew York Yankees on theYES Network.[11] In addition to Ruocco’s regular slate of Yankees broadcasts, he took over for YES Network’s play-by-play broadcasterMichael Kay as he underwent vocal cord surgery. Ruocco also filled in for the legendary radio sportscasterJohn Sterling onWFAN in July 2019 when he took off his first radio broadcast after working 5,060 straight Yankees games since 1989.[12]
Ruocco co-hosted the podcast R2C2 alongside former New York Yankees all-star pitcherCC Sabathia.[13] Sabathia and Ruocco welcomed athlete and celebrity guests for wide-ranging conversations. In 2023, R2C2 held its final episode after six years.[14]
Ruocco became engaged to private equity executive Andrea Ferzoco in January 2019; they were married in a private ceremony in November 2020, and Andrea gave birth to a daughter named Everly in September 2021. His son Remy James was born on June 14, 2025.[citation needed]
"Ryan Ruocco". LinkedIn. RetrievedAugust 11, 2013.
"Ryan Ruocco".ESPN.com. Archived fromthe original on December 2, 2010. RetrievedMarch 16, 2015.