South Florida Alum Jim Lighthall Takes Over as the New “Voice of the Bulls”
September 03, 2026 | Football
Jim Lighthall, no stranger to University of South Florida broadcasts, is the new "Voice of the Bulls" for USF football. It's a different voice calling the action as the Bulls kickoff season No. 30, but a very familiar one.
Here's what Bulls Nation has learned about Lighthall over the past three decades:
He's ready. He's filled with energy. He sees the game through the eyes of a fully invested fan. There's no detail too small. Victories are to be savored.
His preparation will be impeccable. His tone will be authoritative and passionate. His allegiance will be unquestioned.
"I love this university,'' Lighthall said. "I love doing these games. If you want to know the truth, it's all I ever wanted to do.''
Lighthall, a USF alumn, is best known as the enduring voice of South Florida men's basketball — he has done 901 total games with an ongoing string of 753 consecutively (missing only a 2002 trip to Southern Miss when his son, Jake, was born) — but he's eager to add the primary football duties to a portfolio that includes hosting Athletics banquets and introductions of new head coaches among other things.
As South Florida opens the 2026 season against FIU at Raymond James Stadium Saturday, few people know the program's history better than Lighthall. He has been part of South Florida's football broadcasts since Day One — USF 80, Kentucky Wesleyan 3 on Sept. 6, 1997 — working as the pregame, halftime and postgame host.
But now he's stepping in for the legendary Jim Louk, who retired following last season after handling play-by-play for every game of South Florida's first 29 seasons. That's a legacy worth honoring, Lighthall said.
"It's plain and simple: Jim Louk is a University of South Florida Hall of Famer,'' Lighthall said. "You can't write the story of USF Athletics without him. Jim Louk was always there as the rock for all of us.
"I learned so much from him. He set the tone in terms of professionalism through a lot of ups and downs. I tend to get a little emotional at times and he taught me how to keep a level head, not to get too crazy when things are going good and not to get too down when things are going poorly. I feel like I've learned from the best.''
Growing up in Michigan, Lighthall dreamed of becoming a professional athlete. He was a standout in his own right after moving to Florida, playing on Brandon High School's 1984 Class 4A state-finalist basketball team. Deep down, though, Lighthall knew his destiny was in the booth, not on a field or court.
As a kid, he mimicked his favorite announcers, sometimes dreaming up his own play-by-play scenarios that he acted out in the backyard.
As a USF student, he worked the overnight shift at a radio station. He called Friday night high-school football and basketball games, sometimes traveling all over the state earlier in the week to gather information from coaches. He remembers being in a room with dozens of young prospective broadcasters during the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings and feeling secure that no one would worker harder and no one would be more prepared.
"I feel like I prepare pretty well for my job and have a meticulous nature, but Jim takes it to an extreme,'' said Susan Lighthall, a fourth-grade teacher, and his wife of 32 years. "I'll see pages and pages of notes and I'll say, 'You've got it. You're good.' And he'll say, 'No, I have to be ready for anything in case there's a delay, in case of something unexpected.' Doing well and being prepared means everything to him. He lives by that old saying of the five P's.''
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
"If you're prepared, you're ready for anything and you can carry on a conversation about any aspect of the team,'' Lighthall said. "If you're not prepared, if you're trying to wing it, the listeners will see right through you. My goal is to always to make it informative, interesting and fun. I want to reflect the passion of the fans who care so much about USF football.
"I love doing basketball, obviously, but it's a different pace. You can come down and hit three 3's in row — Bang! Bang! Bang! — and that's cool. In football, there's usually one huge play in an offensive possession. Maybe a guy breaks through the line of scrimmage and, boom, he's gone. You didn't see it coming. But you've got to be ready to punch those moments. You've got to put an exclamation point on it. That's what I've always liked about calling football. There are breaks, ebbs and flows, then a huge play out of nowhere. And as the crowd goes crazy, as they respond to that moment, you've got to respond also.''
When Louk announced his retirement last season after 43 years calling more than 3,000 USF contests, there was no hesitation or national search for a replacement. With the final approval of USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins, there was an instant transition to Lighthall, the natural successor.
Louk said he expects Lighthall to thrive in the play-by-play role.
"It was so easy to identify him as the guy to do this because he has already demonstrated everything you need over the years,'' Louk said. "I'm really pleased that (USF) leadership recognized that and saw right away he should be the guy. He's a commanding play-by-play voice. He's clear, concise and entertaining in the routine moments and the dramatic moments.
"He builds great relationships with the student-athletes and coaches. He understands that some things you learn belong on the air and other things don't. And his preparation is just immaculate.''
Speaking of that preparation …
"Jim Lighthall knows that the moment you don't have some background on the opponent's third-string linebacker who never plays, that's the day he makes a big play on special teams or scores a touchdown,'' Louk said. "You've got to always be ready. Jim Lighthall will always be ready.''
–#GoBulls–
Joey Johnston
Athletics Senior Writer
