Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University has announced that Associate Director of the Claire Smith Center for Sports Media and Professor Marc Zumoff, KLN ’92, will deliver the keynote address to graduates at the college’s graduation ceremony. The ceremony is to be held on Thursday, May 11, at the Liacouras Center at 1:30 p.m.  

After 44 years in broadcasting—27 being the voice of the Philadelphia 76ers—Zumoff returned to his alma mater to serve as associate director of the Claire Smith Center and teach a play-by-play class for students pursuing the corresponding sports media certificate from the center.  

Zumoff has had an extensive career in broadcasting, covering everything from high school and college sports to the U.S. Women’s basketball team at the 2016 Olympics. As a native Philadelphian, Zumoff had the honor of covering the 76ers for 39 years, as well as doing occasional play-by-play for the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Union. 

Though he announced retirement from the 76ers in 2021, Zumoff has hardly found himself too far from the industry. In addition to teaching the next generation of sports media professionals, he also serves as a media coach for current and aspiring professionals outside of Temple and is active in Maccabi USA, an organization that brings together teenage Jewish athletes, artists and now future media professionals for an Olympic-style sports tournament in Israel every four years. 

“Marc went from the classrooms of Annenberg to become one of the true broadcasting legends of Philadelphia as the nationally respected voice of the 76ers. He will undoubtedly be inspirational to our graduates,” wrote Dean David Boardman.  

This is not Zumoff’s first time addressing Klein College graduates, though. 

In 2012, Zumoff delivered the keynote address at Klein College’s winter commencement. At the time, he was still with the 76ers and knows that all of his experiences since then will help him deliver a different but equally impactful message this year. 

Serving as associate director of the Claire Smith Center, Zumoff said, has helped him shape his perception of the mission of the media industry. He hopes his speech will reach all graduates and is proud to welcome the Class of 2023 to the alumni community. 

“I think there’s a challenge not only because there are students with assorted majors, but students who are an assortment unto themselves,” Zumoff said. “You have to try to deliver a message that resonates with all of them—not in spite of diversity, but because of it.”