Born August 14, 1964, Robb Schmidt joins John Butera as the two sports media inductees this year.
A 1982 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, he is a 1986 graduate of Kent State University where he earned his undergraduate degree in telecommunications.
While at Kent State, he had the opportunity to hone his future craft by working for the campus radio station (WKSR) after being hired by Tim Alcorn, current radio play-by-play announcer for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.
Schmidt began his professional broadcast career as an account executive-sports director at WRRO, 1440 AM radio in Warren, a post that he held from 1986-95.
During his time at WRRO, he broadcasted six OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) state championship football games from 1989-94, also broadcasting six boys and three girls state tournament games during that same time period.
He spent nearly 15 years as a television broadcaster at WKBN-WYFX in Youngstown, serving first as weekend sports anchor-reporter for six years before taking over as the station’s sports director (1998), a position that he held until he became news anchor in 2005 when he succeeded legendary news anchor Tom Holden, a television staple for many years in the Mahoning Valley.
From 1995-97, he was the play-by-play announcer for Hiram College football games while hosting the Terriers’ weekly coaches radio show on WRRO and WBBW, 1240-AM.
One of the most recognizable sports radio-TV broadcasters ever to hail from the Mahoning Valley, he moved over to Youngstown State University in 2007 as assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions, using his extensive background in advertising and marketing to help generate income through marketing, sponsorship, ticket sales and promotions.
Schmidt helps create and develop strategies for all athletic department broadcasts, including the Penguin Sports Radio Network, radio and television coaches shows and special radio/TV programming.
He also oversees the department’s licensing of university trademarks and emcees many department functions and banquets..
In 2023, Schmidt began his new role as associate A.D. for corporate sponsorships and athletic marketing.
Since 2002, he has served as the YSU men’s basketball radio play-by-play broadcaster, later adding television duties as well.
For the past 23 years, he has sat in his familiar courtside seat at the Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center serving as the eyes and ears of his listening audience, broadcasting his 700th overall game this past February 16 when the Penguins defeated Cleveland State, 68-60 at the Wolstein Center.
He has called games under four YSU basketball head coaches, starting with John Robic (2002-05) during his first season at the mic, followed by Jerry Slocum (2005-17), Jerrod Calhoun (2017-24) and currently for Ethan Faulkner.
You don’t broadcast 700-plus games without a handful on instant recall and this year’s honoree has those contests readily available, along with players who have made his 23 seasons sitting courtside so memorable.
Schmidt calls this year’s come-from-behind, 88-86 win over Wright State an instant classic while the 2022-23 Horizon League regular season championship at IUPUI on February 25, 2023, also ranks among his all-time favorites. Cam Morse’s pass to Jordan Kaufman for the game-winning lay-up versus Oakland in the Horizon League tournament on March 4, 2017, is another pleasant memory.
Beginning the 2012-13 season with wins at George Washington and then at Georgia also stands out for Schmidt while some of the top players creating those memories include Kendrick Perry, Quin Humphrey, Dwayne Cohill and Bobby Hain, among others.
For his efforts, he has been inducted into the Trumbull County Legends of Leather Boxing Hall of Fame (1997) and in 2013, was honored with induction into the Warren Sports Hall of Fame.
He and his wife, the former Vickie Andrews, are the proud parents of a daughter, Emily.
The couple resides in Girard.
