'The Groz' to be new voice of Redhawks

Dave Grosby has been supporting teams in the transition to Division I since his career in radio started at the age of 13.


Grosby's father was the general manager of a radio station in New York and allowed him the opportunity to experience life on the air.

The year was 1974 and Grosby took to following Iona College, a small Catholic school in New Rochelle, N.Y. on the school's road to D-I. Within three years of their move, Iona's men's basketball team was playing at top 10 levels, Grosby said.


Today, Grosby is a local radio celebrity known as "The Groz." When 950 KJR-AM converted to an all-sports station in January 1991, The Groz was there. He left for KIRO—where he took over the SportsLine Show—in 1993 but returned to KJR in 1996, where he has been ever since.

The Groz is one of the most easily recognizable voices in the Seattle sports radio scene, known for co-hosting the longest running sports talk show in town: "Groz with Gas" with Mike Gastineau. The show airs weekdays from 3 to 5 p.m.


Seattle University's decision to return to D-I took Grosby back to his days in radio with his father.

"When I saw what Seattle U was doing, I thought it was intriguing," The Groz said. "I was trying to think of a way I could be involved."


The Groz will be the new on air play-by-play announcer for Seattle U men's basketball on 710 ESPN Seattle. ESPN Seattle is also the on-air home of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners.

Since he has already had experience with a team in the middle of a transition, Grosby is looking forward to being there for the challenges and exciting next steps ahead of Seattle U.

Calling Seattle U "the city's university," The Groz said it wouldn't be the same if one of the other universities in the area tried to make the jump to D-I.


"Seattle U was big in the '50s, '60s and '70s; it never went away," Grosby said. "Now it's getting big again."


As someone who talks about sports for a living, The Groz said one of the biggest Seattle sports memories most people mention is a game Seattle U played in its heyday against the University of Washington. Back when Seattle Center's KeyArena was the home for the first time, Seattle U packed the stands with a crowd of 14,000.

Grosby is looking forward to broadcasting from KeyArena now that it has officially been dubbed Seattle U's home once again.

"It's a rare and special privilege," Grosby said of the opportunity he has to broadcast from KeyArena and of the chance the players have to compete there. "You need a lot of dominos falling in the right direction."


The last announcer to work at KeyArena was Kevin Calabro, the former voice of the Seattle SuperSonics. Since the Sonics' departure from Seattle, Calabro has been named the voice of the Seattle Sounders FC.

Bill Hogan, Seattle U's director of Athletics, is looking forward to having The Groz involved in the transition to D-I.


"He's well known and gives us a lot of credibility," Hogan said. "He's a fervent believer in what we're trying to accomplish."


The Groz looks forward to helping in the revival of the basketball scene in Seattle.

"It's the chance to be a part of something that is not only good for the community, but good for the school," Grosby said.


The Groz will make his first KeyArena appearance Nov. 19 when the Redhawk men tip-off their first home season in KeyArena with the annual Elgin Baylor Classic. They will face Fresno State University at 7:10 p.m.

Taylor can be reached at sports@su-spectator.com.