Ohio State has selected the newest voice of the Buckeyes.
On Thursday, the Ohio State athletic department revealed that Tom Snyder, an Otterbein University graduate, Columbus resident and current communications director at St. Francis DeSales High School, was selected to handle public address duties for Ohio State football games at Ohio Stadium.
Introducing the new voice of Ohio Stadium
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) August 24, 2023
Tom Snyder Fans will soon be getting used to hearing Snyder's voice on Football Saturdays
Join us in giving Tom a warm welcomehttps://t.co/g3i8VVU9Xv
Snyder was selected from a collection of over 100 applicants for the role. In August, he was among seven finalists who underwent an audition at the stadium. Snyder will replace the late Bob Kennedy as Ohio State's PA announcer. Kennedy died in late April at 59.
“Bob had a big heart, and he loved his Buckeyes,” said Jerry Emig, Ohio State's associate athletic director for communications, after Kennedy's death. “He loved his PA jobs. He was a true professional at his craft and a friend to us all. He knew the local media, our administrators, coaches and student-athletes, and he certainly knew the histories well of many Ohio State sports, and he loved to talk about them.”
As Kennedy's replacement, Snyder will look to capture the same enthusiasm for the Buckeyes his predecessor had for over 20 years. He will do so as his voice echoes in the century-old stone structure known as the Horseshoe.
Snyder has plenty of experience in PA and broadcast work. After earning his bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Otterbein, he held PA positions at Long Beach State (baseball) and UCLA (baseball) before returning to Columbus in 2013 to serve as a digital communications director for DeSales.
In addition to his work for Long Beach State and UCLA, Snyder has announced the Dodgertown Classic (2010 and 2011) at Dodger Stadium and the NFL Alumni Central Ohio Golf Outing (2021). He also has been the lead broadcaster for DeSales' high school athletics for several years.
Snyder will debut as Ohio State football's PA announcer when the Buckeyes host Youngstown State in its home opener on Sept. 9.
