Longtime Phoenix Suns broadcaster Al McCoy is remembered for not only his skills behind the microphone, but also his kindness off the court. He died Saturday at the age of 91. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – Al McCoy was the iconic voice of the Phoenix Suns for 51 years and is a beloved figure in Arizona sports.
But those who knew him best say that he was just as beloved as a person – someone who cared about the welfare of others.
Julie Fie, the former vice president of basketball communications for the Phoenix Suns, recalls living “parallel lives” in the NBA world with McCoy as two proud Iowans. While most Arizonans got to listen to McCoy over the airwaves, Fie heard his voice up close.
“He was a straight shooter and very authentic,” Fie said. “He told things the way he saw them, but he didn’t bite.”
McCoy passed away at 91 Saturday and is remembered by many of his peers as being ever present in spirit and character.
Fie describes McCoy as the ultimate cheerleader for people, always lifting others up and was often there to support to her in a sports world that wasn’t always kind to women in the 1980s and 1990s. She is grateful that McCoy was “a wonderful man first, and then an awesome broadcaster second.”
“He was so gracious with his time,” Fie said. “There’s not many people that ever met Al who didn’t feel like they were his friend.”
Born in Williams, Iowa, McCoy loved sports and the broadcasts that accompanied them from a young age. He didn’t enjoy the luxury of electricity and used a battery-powered radio along with comic books to spark his interest and imagination for sports and broadcasting.
After graduating from Drake University and calling semi-professional baseball games in Webster City, Iowa, McCoy landed gigs with the Triple-A Phoenix Giants and the Phoenix Roadrunners of the Western Hockey League, launching his storied career.
He continued to show his broadcasting versatility in a six year stint calling Arizona State basketball and football football games. McCoy was in the early process of making his voice known with signature catchphrases and an unparalleled enthusiasm for sports, specifically basketball.
McCoy wasn’t the first Suns play-by-play man, but after introducing himself to Jerry Colangelo, he took over in 1972 and remained the voice of the Suns until his retirement in 2023. His calls of “Shazam,” “Oh, brother,” “Zing go the strings,” and “Heartbreak Hotel” are etched into the memory of Suns fans across generations.
McCoy helped the sports fans of Phoenix first to identify with the Suns, and then to love them.
McCoy has been around to see and voice all of the franchises’ best and most painful moments, from when he electrified fans with colorful radio calls of the 1976 NBA Finals, including the triple-overtime Game 5 that the Boston Celtics won, or the 1992-93 NBA Finals run that featured MVP-winning Charles Barkley and, this time, a triple-overtime victory in the Finals against Michael Jordan and the Bulls.
The Arizona Cardinals honored late Phoenix Suns broadcaster Al McCoy with a moment of silence before Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
He was still on the mic for the team’s 2021 NBA Finals appearance against the Milwaukee Bucks. During that most recent playoff run, fans cheered as much for McCoy to call a Suns championship as they did for the team to win it.
The Suns never have.
He was beloved by Suns players as well, from early stars such as Dick Van Arsdale and Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins, to Barkley, to Steve Nash and the “Seven seconds or less” Suns to Devin Booker, to whom he might have had a tighter bond than any player who wore the Phoenix purple and orange.
“I had the privilege of Al McCoy narrating the first eight years of my career,” Booker said through the club. “He was inducted into the Ring of Honor my second season, and it was then I really understood what a special talent he was.
“And over the course of my career, I’ve learned what an even more special person he was. We will miss Al, and I am so glad our legacies in Phoenix are forever connected.”
Barkley and others also praised McCoy, who was known for his preparation.
“This is a sad day for the Suns and the Suns family,” Barkley said in a statement. “Al McCoy represented everything that is great about Phoenix, the Phoenix Suns and people who love basketball. I was blessed and honored to work with Al, and I’m gonna miss him.”
McCoy was the most recent of four people inducted into the Ring of Honor who wasn’t a player, joining his long-time friend and the team’s first athletic trainer Joe Proski, former managing partner Jerry Colangelo, coach and team executive Cotton Fitzsimmons and coach John MacLeod.
In 2007, he was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award and induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s media wing for his contributions to basketball.
“His energy and spirit were unmatched, and I’ll never forget all the conversations and laughs we shared,” Nash said. “He was the teammate that never wore a jersey.”
McCoy’s impact on sports broadcasting extended far beyond his catchphrases. He pioneered a style that combined detailed play-by-play with colorful storytelling, making radio broadcasts come alive for listeners. His ability to paint a clear picture of the action on the court set a standard for aspiring basketball broadcasters across the country.
Many familiar voices, including former play-by-play announcer Marv Albert and current broadcaster Mike Breen cite McCoy as a significant influence, and his longevity in the industry allowed him to mentor countless young broadcasters.
The Al McCoy Media Center at the Footprint Center where the Suns player also stands as a testament to his contributions to both sports and broadcasting in Arizona.
McCoy’s legacy as the voice of the Suns, a jazz aficionado and pianist, and a community leader will live on in the hearts of fans through the countless lives he touched during a remarkable career. He is survived by his sons Jerry, Mike and Jay, their wives, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Memorial services are pending.
“As a father, he taught us the value of respect, loyalty, hard work and love – both on and off the court,” his family said in a statement released by the team. “His passion, dedication and kindness touched countless lives, and while he may be gone, the impact he made will be felt for generations to come.”