Legendary voice of Purdue basketball, Larry Clisby, retires after more than 40 years
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Plenty of changes are ahead for the Purdue basketball radio team when the 2020-21 season begins later this month.
Larry Clisby has retired after calling 1,189 Boilermaker games. Rob Blackman will shift to full-time play-by-play duties, former Boilermaker guard and Harrison graduate Bobby Riddell will serve as the game analyst and the flagship station is now WAZY (96.5).
Clisby is ending his long and successful career calling Purdue basketball games, which began in 1977 for WASK in Lafayette, Indiana. He took over as Purdue's radio voice in 1984.
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“For 40-plus years, Purdue Basketball has been a big part of my life, but I am ready to enjoy retirement and watch the Boilermakers from afar,” Clisby said in a statement. “There have been many great moments working with this program over the last 40 years that I can’t begin to name them all.
"I want to thank coach (Gene) Keady and coach (Matt) Painter and all of our listeners for all of their support and friendship. I will always be a huge Boilermaker fan.”
Clisby has battled health problems over the last several years. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and metastatic brain cancer in June 2018. He continued to serve as the play-by-play voice of the Boilermakers but did cut back on his work schedule last season.
He also battled bladder cancer and melanoma earlier in his life.
“We want to congratulate Larry on an outstanding career as the longtime voice of Purdue Basketball," Painter said in a release. "Larry was as big of a part of Purdue Basketball as anyone over the last 40 years and we wish him the best in retirement."
Blackman took over play-by-play duties last season but Clisby remained part of the broadcast as the color analyst. This will be Blackman's 16th season as part of the radio crew. Ralph Taylor will continue to add color commentary for home games.
Riddell is a familiar name around Purdue and the Lafayette community. The 2009 Purdue graduate was part of three NCAA Tournament teams and a Big Ten Tournament championship. Riddell appeared in 83 career games during his time at Purdue, including 27 as a senior.
“I'm extremely excited to be joining the Purdue Basketball radio broadcast team for the upcoming season," Riddell said in a statement. "As a former player and lifelong Purdue fan, I'm grateful to have this opportunity and am looking forward to working with all of the special people that are a part of Purdue basketball."
Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter @carmin_jc