KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Mickey Dearstone, the radio voice of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball for the past 22 years, is being inducted with the class of 2021 into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.
The 40th-annual Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony presented by First Horizon will take place on Aug. 24 at the Knoxville Convention Center. VFL legend and soon-to-be NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning will be the guest speaker.
Dearstone will join LVFL Heather Sumpter Blakemore (track & field), Mike Caldwell (football), former UT assistant coach David Cutcliffe (football), VFL Donnie Graham (track & field official), Chris Groer (tennis), Lee Guetterman (baseball), Carly Pearson (para-athlete), VFL Charlie Petrone (trainer) and Jay Wise (golf) in the class of 2021.
Serving as the Lady Vols’ play-by-play announcer since 1999-2000, Dearstone took over full-time duties from Bob Kesling that season after previously subbing in for his predecessor when broadcast conflicts arose. Dearstone, who also called play-by-play for Tennessee softball for several seasons, works solo, vividly painting a one-voice image of the action taking place on the basketball court.
For 36 years, Dearstone also worked at Knoxville-area Cumulus Broadcasting radio stations, serving as the longtime program director and morning-drive sports talk host on WNML.
His reach extends beyond the radio airwaves and internet, as well, as he also spends time in front of a television camera. He has taken fans inside the workings of the winningest program in women’s college basketball, serving as the host of the Kellie Harper Show and previously handling duties for the Pat Summitt and Holly Warlick Shows.
In 2019, Dearstone was granted honorary member status in the UT Athletics Lettermen’s T Club.
-UT Athletics
