Carl Arky making ‘bittersweet’ return as voice of Weber State Athletics

Carl Arky is returning as the radio voice of Weber State Athletics, the university announced Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Photo: Weber State Athletics

OGDEN, Utah, Aug. 8, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Longtime Utah broadcaster Carl Arky is returning as the radio voice of Weber State Athletics, calling football and men’s basketball games for the Wildcats beginning this season.

Arky, the voice of the Wildcats from 1998-2015 and the 2011 Utah Sportscaster of the Year, takes over for Steve Klauke, who died June 11 after being hit by a car in Sandy.

“I miss Steve; we all do,” Arky said. “He is always in my thoughts. If I had the power, I would change the events of that day back in June when he left us. And then I would gladly hand the mic over to Steve so he could call Wildcat games for years to come.

“As bittersweet as this is, I’m incredibly honored to be handed the baton to keep running the race for Steve and the Wildcats. I’m honored and humbled to have Weber State offer this opportunity to return as the voice of the Wildcats — a calling that’s always been a labor of love. It’s a privilege to again be a part of Weber State University and all of our great athletic programs.”

Arky called several memorable games during his 17-year tenure at Weber State, including the Wildcats’ thrilling NCAA Tournament victory over North Carolina in 1999.

Klauke took over for Arky as the voice of the Wildcats in October 2015.

After leaving Weber State, Arky worked at Cleveland CBS affiliate WOIO and SWX Montana. He also provided the play by play for the archery events at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero.

Arky has spent the past six years with the Utah Transit Authority as its senior media relations specialist.

The St. Louis, Missouri, native graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1977. His first full-time position came in 1978 at KTUL-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he served as a sportscaster and producer/host of the “Jimmy Johnson Oklahoma State Football Coaches Show.”

Arky came to Utah and began working for KUTV-TV Channel 2 in 1983. He later became the sports director at KTVX Channel 4 and served as the color analyst Salt Lake Bees TV broadcasts.

Arky also was the voice of Pro Rodeo on ESPN for four years.

In 1987, Arky was hired as director of broadcasting for the Utah Jazz and was responsible for the production and syndication of all Jazz radio and television programming. He also served as the color analyst with “Hot Rod” Hundley on those broadcasts.

After two seasons with the Jazz, Arky formed his own production company and broadcasted Sacramento Kings games on cable TV, as well as the Western Athletic Conference Game of the Week, Air Force Blue-White Network and select games for the University of Utah from 1989 through 1991.

Weber State football and men’s basketball games are broadcast on 103.1 FM “The Wave.”

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