From Colonie to ESPN: Michael Johnson Jr.’s Young Career in Broadcasting
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By Gavin Hayes | March 30, 2026
The voice of the University at Albany Great Danes contemplates a trip to Delaware in the midst of a logistical nightmare– a production equipment fiasco and five hours by stand between Michael Johnson Jr. and doing the job he loves.
Johnson, better known as M.J., is a UAlbany graduate who now works for UAlbany Sports and the radio station ESPN 104.5 “The Team.”
“Day in the life, brother,” Johnson said when asked about the predicament. Things weren’t always so complicated in Johnson’s early journalistic career.
“I would mute the TV and do play-by-play for some games,” he said, reflecting on his aspirations as a teenager.
Johnson has been doing public address announcing since his time at Colonie High School, six minutes away from the UAlbany Uptown campus. “My senior year, I was the PA [public address] announcer for some of our girls' basketball and boys' basketball games, and our baseball team as well.”
Johnson went on to attend Hudson Valley Community College following high school, earning an associate's degree in communications and media studies in 2019. Due to proximity and athletics, attending UAlbany was an easy choice. Upon enrolling, he got right to work in the press box.
In 2021, Johnson received a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in communications at UAlbany.
“I reached out to them when I was a student, and said, ‘Are there any opportunities for me to do play-by-play?’ They said that was covered, but there definitely is for PA announcing some games,” Johnson said. “I did field hockey and volleyball; that was cool. The girls' volleyball team won the America East. It was a sellout gym, hundreds of people. It's really loud, and I started realizing, wow, people are probably not even paying attention to what I'm saying. It was a good experience. It kind of helped shape what I do now, in a weird way.”
He then landed a job at UAlbany Sports as a full-time member of the broadcast booth. Johnson recalled the meeting in which UAlbany Athletics administrators gave him the offer after the vacancy in Rodger Wyland’s assistant position.
“We went to Across the Street Pub for lunch, and Rodger needed a partner because his last one had left. I said I'd be more than happy to. I don't have any prior play-by-play experience, but I'm confident in what I do, and I'd be more than happy to help out,” Johnson said.
“My first ever trip was to Waco, Texas, to do a football game. UAlbany vs. Baylor, which was an awesome, unforgettable trip,” he said. “I do men's soccer, as the solo play-by-play person, football's mainly color commentary, but if Rodger's out, I do play-by-play, solo or with a color commentator, and then men's basketball as well,” he said when asked about his broadcast partner, Wyland.
Johnson’s role within UAlbany Sports is predicated on being dynamic and versatile.
He can do a solo broadcast — doing both play-by-play and color commentary — but he also works in the booth with a partner. His reach within the world of athletics is far, providing commentary on four different sports: football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball and field hockey.
Johnson uses his past experiences and unconventional methods to sharpen his skills.
“Football and basketball come naturally to me, from watching it for years and being a big fan of the sports, soccer actually as well. I’ve played a lot of FIFA with friends,” he said. “It might sound funny and strange, but video games have helped me understand different things. Madden helped me understand defensive coverages, how to win games. It's not the common way to go about it, but it just does it for me. I've gotten more comfortable with soccer, I know the terminology, I know the corner kicks, the red cards, touch and possession.”
All broadcasters have a unique way of articulating their thoughts; this is a skill that can take time to develop.
“I'll listen back, and I'll be like, ‘That sucked.’ It's hard. It's kind of cringy, listening back to yourself in the beginning, like, ‘Wow, I sucked.’ But then you listen back, and it’s, ‘You go alright, that was pretty good.’ Then, ‘Wow, that was one of my best calls. That's what makes you better.’”
“For the voice specifically, it's two things,” he added. “One, I'm me, on my show, in the games, this is how I am. I have a loud voice. It's kind of deep. It is distinct. But I guess unique in a good way. Two, when you're doing certain things in the game, you're not changing your voice; you're just tweaking it a little bit.”
When he’s not on the call for the Great Danes, Johnson is the producer and co-host for “Big Board Sports with Rodger Wyland” on ESPN 104.5 “The Team.” While his work is often on air, through interviews and analysis, there is also a lot of work that goes into broadcasting behind the scenes.
Johnson recently started his own show on ESPN 104.5, named “Open Mike”. In the hour-long show, Johnson takes calls from his listeners and speaks about what currently interests him in sports.
He says he has more creative freedom and flexibility in the show. He can talk about fantasy football, a topic he avoids when broadcasting with Rodger.
“I kind of essentially do what I want, as long as I don't curse and don't act like an ass on air, which I haven't done yet,” he said. “That's the coolest part, I get to talk to people, my friends aand family are listening to stuff that I would talk to them about at the dinner table.”
“I think that's one of the most rewarding things I've had to do yet in my career,” he added. “To be able to have my own show, after over three years of being on air, learning, trying to get better and now being as confident as I am in myself. Yet I am still willing to grow, and still getting coaching from people on the outside.”
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