Voice of the Panthers

When Dave Cohen (B.A. '94) came to Georgia State in 1983, he made WRAS, the campus radio station, one of his first stops. "I always knew I wanted to work in radio,   and I've always been a sports fan," Cohen said.

Naturally, he gravitated to GSU's sports broadcasts. Before long, he was working alongside Brent Weber - who went on to be a sports correspondent for CNN - then the Panthers' play-by-play man. 

When Weber graduated in 1983, Cohen stepped up to become the voice of GSU sports and hasn't left his post since. Now he's the longest tenured broadcaster for a Division I sports team in the state.

Cohen will be adding football to his roster of coverage when the team debuts Sept. 2 at the Georgia Dome.

"Football coming here is one the most exciting things that's happened since I've been at Georgia State," he said. 

That's quite a statement considering Cohen has covered the Panthers for more than a quarter of a century. 

"I've only missed six GSU games in 28 years," he said. "I feel like I have a close connection to the sports program. I hope people recognize my enthusiasm for the game even though I've never dunked a ball, hit a home run or scored a touchdown."

When Cohen isn't delivering the play-by-plays, he is coordinating GSU's on-campus student and young alumni programming for the Alumni Association. His wife, Carol, also a GSU staffer, was once GSU's head tennis coach and is now director of the Student Advisement Center.

In July, Cohen published his first book, "Matzoh Balls and Baseballs," a book that tracks the stories of 17 former Jewish Major League Baseball players.

Another claim to fame: Cohen just might be the most devoted fan ever of the rock band KISS - he's been to more than 40 of their concerts.

"I've idolized KISS so long that [lead singer] Paul Stanley actually recognizes me now."