Vol Network basketball radio analyst Bert Bertelkamp announced that he is retiring at the end of the 2024-25 season on Friday. Bertelkamp joins Voice of the Vols Bob Kesling in hanging up the microphone at the conclusion of the season.
Kesling and Berterlkamp have been the radio announcers for Tennessee basketball since the 1999-2000 season. After 26 years, the duo will call their final game at Thompson-Boiling Arena at Food City Center on Saturday when Tennessee hosts South Carolina.
Ahead of the game, the duo met with the media and discussed their long careers, working with Rick Barnes and much more. Here’s everything Kesling and Bertelkamp said.
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Opening Statement
Bob Kesling: “First, I want thank Bert, 26 years putting up with me is quite a remarkable feat. But when I was named the lead announcer of the Vol Network, my first job was to find an analyst. And Bert, I knew he always sat at midcourt every single game. And I knew there was nobody more invested in Tennessee Basketball than Bert. And I was just fortunate he said yes. You know, finding an analyst is tough, because you got to find somebody to make the road trips and be gone all the time. And Bert was able, through his company, to work that out. And we went a lot of places and saw a lot of games and been through a lot of coaches and just had a big time. So I want to thank Bert publicly for doing that.”
Bert Bertelkamp: “Well, Bob, I want to thank you too. I wouldn’t have done this for the last 26 years if it wasn’t for Bob. We’re great friends. We’ve had a great time together. And although he used to kick me under the table early in the game, telling me I can’t say certain things on the air.”
Kesling: “It didn’t stop him, though.”
Bertelkamp: “I learned. And it has been a great run. And one other thing I’d like to say is my family’s here. And Bob and I have literally been on hundreds of road trips. And I can remember my wife Sheila, my three children, Lily, Brownie and Hank were at home and they were little and I was going off for two or three days or maybe a week. And Sheila had to handle them by herself. And their love and support has been super instrumental in me being able to do this for 26 years. And my hat’s off and I love them all. And I hope I don’t start crying.”
Kesling: “When I was working at WIVK, I covered Bert when he was in high school playing at Bearden and going up head to head against Elston Turner and all the great matchups they had. And what great player that Bert was in high school. And then when he came to Tennessee, I was working at WIVK, got to cover him when he was playing with Ernie and Bernie and all those great teams they played on. And I’m proud of Bert, he played on three NCAA Tournament teams at Tennessee, he still holds the Tennessee record for assists in an NCAA Tournament game with 16. So Bert was a really good player and I think he’s been a really good analyst, and I think the best in the SEC. So I’ve been blessed with that.”
Bertelkamp: “Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”
On if there is one call that is Bert Bertelkamp’s most memorable one
Bertelkamp: “I think the main thing is the relationships. I’ve met so many great people, UT people, UT fans, our opposition, the other radio guys, the TV personalities really stands out. But I think what stands out above all is the great basketball that I’ve been able to see. And be right there on the court and be at a lot of practices and get to know a lot of great coaches and great players that have come through over the last 26 years. And there’s too many to mention. UT is a first-class program, big time, and they’ve treated Bob and I really well. And it’s just been a blast to cover it. But the people would be the thing I’d remember the most.”
On if it would be fitting for Zakai Zeigler to break his assist record in an NCAA Tournament game in Bert Bertelkamp’s final season
Bertelkamp: “It would be fine if it’s in the Final Four. If he breaks it before that, it won’t be so great. But I think Zakai is working on the single season record, right? He’s got 220 or something. What an amazing player. It’s been an honor to cover him.”
Kesling: “I’ve told Zakai about that record, so he knows about it. So hopefully he’ll be motivated to maybe break it and Bert wouldn’t mind if he broke it anyway.”
Bertelkamp: “I wouldn’t mind a bit.”
On how long it took for Bert Bertelkamp to settle in as Bob Kesling’s color analyst on basketball broadcasts, to no longer feel like a guest analyst
Bertelkamp: “I still feel that way.”
Kesling: “We did TV games together for about three years … there was a Vol Network TV package. So Bert and I actually worked together on TV for a couple of years and then when I got the chance to take over the lead announcer, Bert was the first guy I called. So we had a little chemistry already. But I just told Bert say whatever you want to say, yell and scream, but when the ball gets to mid-court, give it back to me. And he’s done that consistently, so that’s good.”
On when Bert Bertelkamp decided that this would be his final season
Bertelkamp: “Well, honestly, I was thinking of retiring last year and then Bob and I talked over the summer and he said he thought he was going to go one more year. And he didn’t come right out and ask me or put any pressure on me, but I said, well I’ll go with you one more year. And I’ve missed some road games. That was part of the deal. The traveling was kind of getting to me. But I’m glad I did stay another year with Bob and it’s fitting that we’re going out together, because he’s a Hall of Famer and he’s had great leadership, great professionalism and a pleasure to work with. And the Vol Network has been the same way. Steve, Early, Glenn Thackston, Brandon Parks and all their staff have treated me in a first-class way the whole time. And I respect them and I admire them for that.”
On Bert Bertelkamp meeting with former Vol Network general manager Edwin Huster about taking the job as the basketball color analyst
Bertelkamp: “I met with Edwin and Bob and Steve and Glenn and we went to lunch. And Edwin, he liked to give me a hard time. Anyway, I knew Edwin. But he said Bert, there’s three things you can’t do. You can’t be a homer. In other words, you can’t, show favoritism to UT, you can’t referee the game and you can’t coach the game. In other words, second guess the coach. And I said, well, I’m not your man. He said, why? And I said, well, you’re right on one of the three, I’m not going to coach the team. I’m not going to second guess the coach. But I’m surely going criticize the referees. I think your fans (want that). And it’s the Vol Network, so how would I not be a homer? He goes, okay, we’ll let you go with that. He was good with it.”
On Bert Bertelkamp’s favorite memories from his broadcasting career
Bertelkamp: “Every game against Kentucky that we win is my favorite. But there have been so many that it’s hard to even count them. I can remember when Kansas came in here (ranked) No. 1, back when (Bruce) Pearl was here and we knocked them off. We were shorthanded that game. That stands out. But winning in Rupp Arena, I would have to say would be the highlight.”
On how rewarding it has been to watch Tennessee’s program become what it has become over the last 25 years
Bertelkamp: “Oh, it’s been tremendous. It really has. Coach Barnes and his staff and all the people that have worked in the program, are top notch. I love the way the players behave, going on the road with ’em, their character.
They’re all fine young men and it’s really fun to watch ’em grow as players and people. I wish I got to know ’em better, but what I know, I really like and it’s great. Our program’s been talked about all year and we’ve got a great shot to go deep in the tournament.”
On what it’s like to be known more as a broadcaster than as a former Tennessee basketball player, because of his catchphrase, ‘money’
Bertelkamp: “Well, it’s been, it’s been great. The money thing kind of grew. I played with a guy named Terry Glenn and he used to say money in practice all the time. So that’s where it came from. And then Chris Lofton, his long-range shooting really took it to another level. At times people say, you know, you didn’t say money enough during the game. And I feel like I say it way too much, but it’s been rewarding. It’s been fun and you know, I didn’t do this for the money, that’s for sure. I did it because it was fun and it was fulfilling and it was exciting and being buddies with Bob, it was a natural thing, and I love UT basketball, so it’s been great.”
On his other catchphrase, ‘talk to me’
Bertelkamp: “I think I heard somebody else and I just stole that, but I’ve had some positive comments about it and you know, I just get wrapped up in the game. One of the things that my father taught me was the love of the game, but also, whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm and energy. And that’s what I try to do. I try to bring energy to the broadcast and Bob’s gotta do a lot of other things as the play-by-play guy. A much more difficult job. Me, I just, like, you’re sitting at home watching a game and I just try to say things that’ll help the audience understand what’s going on and I think when you’re enthusiastic it helps.”
On his success as a player, he maintained faith that Tennessee basketball could sustain success again one day like it is now
Bertelkamp: “Yeah, I did. ‘Cause Tennessee wanted to be good. We just couldn’t get the right coach. Coaches come and go, and we just didn’t have what it took leadership wise, but once we got that, there’s plenty of resources here. Who wouldn’t want to come here and play? It’s a great place. So yeah, I had confidence we could be at this level.”
On how much he and Bertelkamp are a part of each other’s lives given how much they’re on the road together during basketball season
Kesling: “Well, you know, usually if it’s a Saturday game, Friday nights we go to dinner someplace and we talk about different things. We’d go to shootarounds and just be around each other so much, and so I’ve watched his kids grow up and he’s watched my kids grow up. It’s just been a — the thing is, what’s made it special is not only do we work together, but we’re actually friends. I mean, we do a golf tournament for Helen Ross McNabb. We do a bunch of different things in the community. Burt’s so active in the community. So it’s more than just a partnership and broadcasting. It’s a friendship and we’ve had it for, gosh, 40 years I guess.”
On if he is retiring to get away from Rick Barnes
Kesling: “No, no, no. And Bert will tell you, we have so much fun with Coach Barnes. He’s one of the most unique coaches I’ve ever been around and Bert will probably back me up on this, when he is on the floor, I’ve never seen a coach more intense and down to detail, but when he steps across that line, you don’t know what you’re gonna get. Practical jokes and stuff. I mean, it’s just amazing and that’s what’s made it fun. I mean it’s really been a lot of fun with Coach Barnes and I marvel at how he prepares his team, I marvel at the relationship he has with his players, the character he has with his program and just what he’s brought to Tennessee basketball. So we’ve been fortunate to work with some really good coaches, but Coach Barnes is right up there near the top.”
Bertelkamp: “The one thing about Coach Barnes that you can count on is his teams play hard. They play hard, they play great defense and they play hard. Sometimes they’re off offensively, which all teams are, but his teams, when you play against Tennessee, you better come to play. And that’s fun, that’s fun for us over there ’cause the one thing that I’ve always thought about in broadcasting is, I’m never gonna be negative unless the team doesn’t play hard, unless they’re loafing and then you can’t get behind that. That’s never been an issue with Coach Barnes’ teams.”
Kesling: “You talk about Coach Barnes when he is not on the floor, when he is away, he’s a jokester and he’s a lot of fun to be around. I got the first glimpse of that, our first NCAA tournament game we were doing together. I keep a little card in my wallet, you know, that says the last word from Coach Barnes is brought to you by First Horizon. I use that card so I don’t mess up the close before we go into the broadcast. So we’re getting ready to play our first NCAA tournament game and I take my wallet out, and I get my little card and I lay the wallet down, and we do the interview and I say, ‘thanks, Coach Barnes, and good luck today.’ He said, ‘okay, thank you.’ As he’s leaving, he picks up my wallet and steals my wallet, and he is running down the hall with my wallet and I’m chasing him back into the locker room, and he’s hiding in the locker room with my wallet and I’m going, we’re an hour away from an NCAA tournament game and he’s doing this kind of stuff. But then guess what? He goes out and his team plays great and they win an NCAA tournament game. So that’s what you deal with and it’s just amazing his focus — his laser focus — when they tip the ball up and they start playing. That’s what’s so amazing about it.”
