NMSU announcer Jack Nixon set to retire after 2024-25 season

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State fans learned today that the upcoming athletics year will be the final year on the air for long-time radio broadcaster Jack Nixon. Colloquially known as “The Voice of the Aggies”, Nixon is entering his 45 ^th years on the air and in the ears of Aggie fans nationwide.

“I love doing this and I love Las Cruces, but everything comes to an end,” noted Nixon at a press conference announcing his retirement on Monday, Aug. 19. “I feel good about this decision.”

Nixon first came to Las Cruces in 1976 and began his career as the sports director for KOBE 1450 AM radio. This also coincided with the beginning of his tenure with the Aggies and, aside from a three-year gap from 1982-85, he has been the primary play-by-play announcer for all NM State football and men’s basketball games since then.

In his time with the Aggies, Nixon has watched the men’s basketball program earn 17 appearances to the NCAA Tournament, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 1991-92. Nixon will begin the 2024-25 basketball season with over 1,400 men’s basketball broadcasts under his belt and has worked with legendary NM State coaches including Lou Henson, Ken Hayes, Neil McCarthy, Marvin Menzies and Chris Jans.

Nixon was on the air when the men’s basketball team earned the program’s first win over a ranked opponent – defeating Larry Bird and No. 9 Indiana State in overtime inside the Pan American Center on Jan. 10, 1980. Nixon has also covered basketball games versus No. 1 ranked UNLV teams coached by Jerry Tarkanian and Missouri Valley, Big West, Sun Belt and WAC basketball championships.

Last fall, Nixon called his 500 ^th Aggie football game when the program collided with Fresno State in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl. This was the third Aggie bowl game Nixon was on the call for with his first coming during the 2017 season when NM State ended a 56-year drought without an appearance in a bowl game with a victory in the Arizona Bowl.

Nixon was also part of the Aggie’s 35-7 upset over No. 22 Arizona State in Phoenix on Sept. 18, 1999, in addition to calling the Aggies’ 28-21 win over Minnesota in 2011 to mark the program’s first-ever win over a Big Ten opponent.

Nixon has also helped cover several other Aggie programs including women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball during his 44-year career with the Aggies.

Nixon on the legacy he would like to leave behind
“I love this town and I hope that people here have warmed up to me and if they say ‘We enjoyed listening to Jack’ and ‘We enjoyed getting to know Jack’, that’d be great.”

Nixon on his favorite memory during his time with the Aggies
“Obviously NCAA wins, bowl wins and things like that. It would be hard to isolate it as one thing. I’m just very fortunate to be able to enjoy this.”

The first broadcasted game of Nixon’s final year will be on Saturday, Aug. 31, when the Aggies play host to Southeast Missouri. Nixon’s play-by-play call of the game can be found on 99.5 FM KXPZ for fans in Las Cruces and the surrounding areas. Nationally, Nixon’s call can be found live via the TuneIn app.

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