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By: ECU Athletics

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Chris Edwards has been named Director of Broadcasting and “Voice of the Pirates” for ECU Sports Properties according to an announcement by General Manager Clay Walker Thursday morning.

No stranger to Greenville, N.C., the 2010 East Carolina graduate has called television play-by-play for men’s and women’s broadcasts on ESPN+ since November of 2020 and at one time served as the public address announcer for Pirate baseball.

“I am humbled to have been entrusted with the duty as the next play-by-play announcer at ECU,” Edwards said.

“A sincere thank you to Clay Walker, Jon Gilbert and the rest of the ECU and ECU Sports Network family for allowing me to tell the stories of our student-athletes and coaches. I cannot wait to get to work on helping to chronicle this chapter of Pirate Athletics.

“East Carolina University and Greenville have played such a huge part in my life, and I am so fortunate to have the chance to give back to the place that has given me so much.

While we look forward to our next chapter in ECU’s history, it is important to not forget our past and I am going to strive each day to honor the memory and the legacy of Jeff Charles, who will forever be the “Voice of the Pirates”.”

Edwards, who is set to begin his new position in August, comes to ECU Sports Properties after spending the last 10 years working with the Blue Devil Sports Network. During that time, he primarily handled broadcast play-by-play duties for baseball, women’s basketball and volleyball as well as men’s soccer. In January of 2014 he was named a top-30 broadcaster under the age of 30 by STAATalent.com.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris Edwards back to Greenville in the role as Director of Broadcasting and Voice of the Pirates,” ECU Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert said. “Chris’ passion and enthusiasm for his alma mater were clear during the interview process.

He’s a Pirate and will be a great collaborator with our coaches and staff as we continue to push our powerful brand across the surrounding area, state and country. This is a time of tremendous optimism and opportunity for ECU Athletics, and I know Chris is looking forward to engaging with all of Pirate Nation in his new role.”

Since 2013, Edwards has played an integral role with Time Warner Cable Sports Channel as a play-by-play broadcaster for basketball, football and other Olympic sports. He has also called multiple state championship broadcasts and performed sideline duties as well as hosted a studio show.

Edwards held the Director of Broadcasting role with the Coastal Plain League from 2013-16 where he oversaw all 14 broadcasters in the league. The 2010 Broadcaster of the Year for the CPL, Edwards provided play-by-play for the Coastal Plain League All-Star game and compiled weekly notes as well. He also served as the director of media relations for the Thomasville HiToms (2010-11) and the Wilson Tobs (2012).

“This is an exciting day for Pirate Nation,” Walker said. “We are fortunate ECU Sports Network was able to attract a dynamic and versatile individual like Chris Edwards who is an ECU Alum and truly understands the passion and enthusiasm of this fan base.”

A 2010 graduate of ECU, Edwards received a bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in broadcast journalism.