Louk has called every USF football game in program history among a 43-year career serving USF Athletics;
Jim Lighthall to succeed Louk calling USF football games along with continuing calling men's basketball games
 
TAMPA, OCT. 13, 2025 – Jim Louk, the Voice of the Bulls since 1983 and the only play-by-play announcer in University of South Florida football history, has announced he will retire from that role at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Louk has called more than 3,000 USF Athletics contests over a 43-year career, delivering memorable play-by-play on both radio and television broadcasts. Though stepping away from the football booth, he will continue to call select basketball and baseball games on ESPN+ and make occasional appearances on football radio broadcasts and other athletics events.

 

"Generations of Bulls fans have only known one Voice of Bulls Football, and we are incredibly fortunate that voice belonged to someone as passionate, prepared, and committed as Jim Louk," said CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins. "For 43 years, Jim has been the trusted narrator of our story, bringing to life so many unforgettable moments and memories. We are deeply grateful for his tremendous contributions."

Longtime voice of USF men's basketball Jim Lighthall will assume Louk's play-by-play duties for football beginning in the 2026 season. Lighthall, who enters his 29th season calling Bulls basketball in 2025-26, has also been a mainstay on South Florida football pre- and post-game shows since the first season of Bulls football and is a familiar presence at athletics events.

Louk heads into Saturday's Homecoming matchup vs. FAU having called 341 USF football games, including the Bulls' inaugural game on Sept. 6, 1997, and 12 bowl appearances.

"Jim Louk has been a big part of the history and tradition of South Florida Football throughout his incredible career," said Head Coach Alex Golesh. "He's been a valued and trusted part of our program and will certainly be missed. I know he's looking forward to spending more time with his growing family, and I congratulate him on a tremendous run."

Since 1983, Louk has been the voice of South Florida Athletics, beginning with men's basketball and transitioning to football in the program's first season. He's also called action across USF Athletics —football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and volleyball—on networks including SportsChannel, Fox Sports Florida, Brighthouse Sports Network, and ESPN+.

Louk has partnered in the booth for the last eight football seasons with former Bulls linebacker Sam Barrington, and for the first 21 seasons with former NFL standout Mark Robinson.

"Working alongside Jim Louk for the past eight years has been one of the greatest privileges of my post-NFL career," Barrington said. "Jim's professionalism, preparation, and passion for USF football have set the standard for what it means to represent this program. Beyond being the Voice of USF, he's been a mentor and friend who helped me transition seamlessly from the field to the broadcast booth. His legacy continues to shape not only the broadcast but the pride every Bull feels on game day."

Beyond the broadcast booth, Louk served USF Athletics in multiple roles. From 1995 to 2012, he oversaw ticket sales, and later led the Bulls Vision video production unit until his 2021 retirement from the department. He also served as the voice of USF commencement ceremonies from 2013 to 2021 and authored the longtime GoUSFBulls.com series Letters from Louk.

About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 21 varsity teams, with 20 competing at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference, including the recent additions of women's lacrosse and women's beach volleyball. The Bulls' athletic program, founded in 1965, celebrates its 60^thseason in 2025-26.

Nearly 500 student-athletes train and compete in the Tampa General Hospital Athletics District on the east end of USF's Tampa campus. The Bulls have won 154 conference titles across 16 sports, with 82 men's championships and 72 women's championships. Men's tennis and men's soccer lead with 20 titles each, while women's programs have been headlined by women's tennis (14) and volleyball (13). Since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013, USF has secured 36 conference team titles.
 
Academically, USF student-athletes have achieved a program record of 21 consecutive semesters with a combined GPA of 3.0 or above as of spring 2025. Since 2015, more than 800 Bulls have earned their degrees.
 
Follow South Florida Athletics
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Get your tickets today!
Call 1-800-GO-BULLS (1-800-462-8557) or email BullsTickets@usf.edu to claim your season or single-game tickets. You can also download the USF Bulls app on the Android or Apple stores to purchase tickets and parking. Visit USFBullsTix.com for more information.