Portland State Athletics has hired Matt Richert as its new play-by-play voice for Viking football and basketball. Richert replaces Tom Hewitt, who retired after 20 seasons of calling PSU play-by-play.

Richert brings two decades of broadcasting experience to his role with the Vikings. A resident of Hillsboro, Richert has worked the past eight seasons as Pacific University's play-by-play voice for football and men's and women's basketball. He has also provided play-by-play and commentary for the Hillsboro Hops alongside Rich Burk since 2013.

"This is the top of the heap for calling games in this area," said Richert in reference to Portland State athletics. "Football has a great history here, and I am really excited about the future of Viking basketball, and with a new arena this is a great time to join the team.

"I'm very passionate about what I do and I want to create an exciting atmosphere and keep people engaged in Viking athletics."

Richert has spent virtually his entire broadcasting career in the Pacific Northwest. After a year in Skagit Valley, WA, he moved to Astoria to become Sports Director for the New Northwest Broadcasters group with six stations. He was the sports anchor at KAST, and produced and hosted a daily morning sports talk show. He was on the coast from 1999-2009. 

Richert then joined KUIK radio in Hillsboro in 2009. Soon he was calling games at Pacific University to go with his other roles, and eventually joined the Hops when they began operations in 2013.

Other credits for Richert include calling hundreds of State Championships in football, basketball, baseball and volleyball on OSAA and OAB networks; a fill-in for Mike Parker at Oregon State calling Beaver basketball, and calling several University of Portland basketball games in past years. He has also done state of Washington high school playoff games and Babe Ruth Regionals and World Series games around the northwest.

Richert will be the play-by-play voice for the Vikings beginning Aug. 31 when Portland State takes on Nevada in the season-opening football game. All Viking football games will air on Rip City Radio in the Portland area. Viking football and basketball home games are all live streamed at www.WatchBigSky.com and on Pluto TV (channel 232).