Longtime voice of Hampton Roads sports, Jack Ankerson, has joined the athletic department of Virginia Wesleyan College where he will be responsible for the development of funding for athletics.
Very active within the Hampton Roads community, Ankerson serves on a number of boards including Norfolk Tourism Research Foundation, Norfolk Festevents, the Lincoln-Lane Foundation, the Norfolk Boat Club, and the Portsmouth Invitational Basketball Tournament. In 2007 he was the President of the Norfolk Sports Club and in 2010 he was selected into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.
"Jack's voice and longtime involvement in sports is known throughout Hampton Roads," said VWC Athletics Director Joanne Renn. "We are excited to have Jack involved in connecting people and local businesses to our new athletic facilities, successful collegiate programs, and growth of Virginia Wesleyan College.
We are fortunate that Ankerson will share his expertise with Virginia Wesleyan, where approximately one third of our more than 1,300 students participate in athletics programs."
An All-American football and basketball player at Division III Ripon College in Wisconsin, where he was one of the school's all-time leading scorers in basketball. Ankerson was drafted as a quarterback by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1981 he was inducted into the Ripon College Athletic Hall of Fame.
After a short time in the National Football League, Ankerson began a career in professional basketball in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He was the General Manager of San Antonio Spurs and Virginia Squires, and was named the ABA's Executive of the Year in 1974.
Locally, Ankerson was the General Manager of the Hampton Roads Admirals and the Hampton Roads Mariners soccer team. Additionally, he was the Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Sports Commission along with previously serving as the Program and Sports Director of WTAR Radio.
In addition to his involvement with Virginia Wesleyan, Ankerson is also active at Old Dominion University where he is known as "Voice of the Monarchs" serving as the public address announcer for ODU football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. He is also the game announcer for the Norfolk Tides.
"Virginia Wesleyan College provides a quality education experience for their students and I am very impressed with the new athletic facilities and coaches," said Ankerson. "Virginia Wesleyan is one of the best kept secrets in Hampton Roads and I look forward to letting the secret out of the bag."
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