Tony Castricone, who spent the last nine years broadcasting Husky football and men’s basketball games, will leave Washington for a new role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The move was announced Tuesday morning.
Castricone will become the Buccaneers’s new radio play-by-play announcer. He is leaving behind his role as the director of broadcasting for Washington where he served as the lead radio play-by-play voice of the Huskies.
In a video released on X Tuesday morning, Castricone said it was “an incredible nine years” and described it as “more than I could’ve ever asked for.”
He thanked his wife, friends and co-workers at UW. He also thanked the student athletes for allowing him to tell their stories.
“Finally, to you fans, you all make this the greatest setting in college football,” Castricone said. “Thank you for welcoming in a kid from a 46-acre pine tree farm in Centerburg, Ohio to the Pacific Northwest and making me one of your own.”
The video compilation included clips of Husky fans and voice-over from Castricone’s child. He ended the video by stating he would be a “Husky fan for life.”
“Do me a favor, beat the Ducks,” Castricone said as his closing remark. “Go Dawgs.”
The Buccaneers also released a video Tuesday morning announcing Castricone would be joining the organization.
“I just think about how excited I am for the opportunity,” Castricone said. “It’s not just to call games for a team that is built to continue to have success but it’s also a great place to work.”
Castricone is replacing Gene Deckerhoff, who retired at the end of last season after serving as the Buccaneer’s play-by-play announcer for 37 seasons. Castricone acknowledged the significance of succeeding Deckerhoff, who Castricone said is “not just a broadcaster” but “an institution.”
“While I’m a different person and a different broadcaster, I’m going to come in with the absolute most passion that I can pour into this job and it’ll be different,” Castricone said. “The heart on the sleeve will be beating just as intently.”