Greg Sharpe, the beloved voice of Nebraska Cornhuskers football and baseball, passed away on February 14, 2025, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer at age 61.
Highlights
- Despite his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Sharpe continued broadcasting throughout the 2024 season, demonstrating his unwavering passion for sports.
- Nebraska Athletics and the baseball team paid tribute to Sharpe, with players wearing “Sharpe Strong” patches and the university recognizing his lasting impact.
- Tributes from colleagues, fans, and family highlight Sharpe’s role as a beloved broadcaster and storyteller whose voice will remain part of Nebraska sports history.
Sharpe’s journey in sports broadcasting began in 1986 as an intern at WIBW-TV under sports director Ron Paradis.
His internship quickly transformed into a full-time position, marking the beginning of a remarkable career in sports broadcasting.
The Kansas native, who grew up in Olathe, attended Kansas State University.
He later became the voice of K-State football and basketball from 1996 to 2002, establishing himself as a respected figure in collegiate sports broadcasting.
Nebraska Athletics recruited Sharpe to call the final three football games of the 2007 season.
His exceptional talent and infectious personality earned him the permanent position in 2008.
For the next 17 seasons, Sharpe’s distinctive voice became synonymous with Husker football and baseball.
His career reached new heights when the National Sports Media Association named him Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year in December 2024.
In recognition of his contributions, Nebraska Athletics honored him by naming the press box workspace the “Greg Sharpe Radio Booth” in January 2025.
The Sports World Mourns the Death of Greg Sharpe, a Beloved Broadcaster and Storyteller
In April 2024, Sharpe publicly announced his pancreatic cancer diagnosis during his daily show “Sports Nightly” on the Huskers Radio Network.
With characteristic determination, he declared,
“I want to get this thing, whup its butt and get myself ready for football.”
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Despite his illness, Sharpe continued to broadcast several games during the 2024 season.
In October 2024, through Memories for Kids, a Nebraska nonprofit, Sharpe and his family fulfilled a long-held dream by attending a Kansas City Chiefs game together at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Nebraska baseball team honored Sharpe by wearing patches with “GS” and “Sharpe Strong” on their hats.
Fittingly, on the first night the team wore these patches, pitcher Jackson Brockett threw the program’s first nine-inning, individual no-hitter since 1954.
Nebraska Athletics announced his passing on social media, stating,
“For 17 years, Greg Sharpe spoke past the microphone and into our hearts. His legacy will be woven into the moments he narrated and carried on through the relationships he built.”
X (formerly Twitter)
For 17 years, Greg Sharpe spoke past the microphone and into our hearts.
— Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) February 15, 2025
His legacy will be woven into the moments he narrated and carried on through the relationships he built.
We are deeply saddened by Greg’s passing and send our deepest condolences to the Sharpe family. pic.twitter.com/AlSMYL6R0K
University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold remembered Sharpe as
“more than an announcer; he was a storyteller, a champion for our student-athletes, and a constant, trusted presence for all who love this university.”
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Athletic Director Troy Dannen said,
“Greg was an incredible person and was a friend to everyone. Simply put, he defined what it meant to be a Husker, and he will always be a Husker.”
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Sharpe’s family expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from Husker Nation, saying,
“The love shown to him during this difficult time truly touched Greg and our family. We are forever grateful to Husker fans everywhere for the letters, gifts and of course prayers.”
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Greg Sharpe is survived by his wife, Amy, whom he met while working at WIBW-TV, and their three daughters, Emily, Campbell, and Taylor.
His legacy lives on through the countless moments he narrated and the relationships he built throughout his distinguished career.
Greg Sharpe’s Wife, Amy, Continues to Shine in Media and Community Service
Amy Lietz Sharpe has established herself as a versatile media professional with a career spanning over three decades.
A graduate of Kansas State University, where she earned her B.S. in Broadcast Journalism between 1990 and 1994, Amy has built a multifaceted career in television, content creation, and community service.
Her journey in broadcasting began at WIBW TV, where she worked as a reporter from April 1992 to December 1993.
It was during this time at WIBW that she met Greg Sharpe, who would later become her husband.
Following her time at WIBW, Amy moved to KSNT-TV, where she served as a news anchor for an impressive 14-year tenure from January 1994 to February 2008.
In recent years, Amy has taken on multiple roles that showcase her versatility.
She currently hosts “Healthy & Seniors Everyday” at KOLN/KGIN-TV 10/11 News in Lincoln, Nebraska, a position she has held since January 2020.
Simultaneously, she works as a Video Specialist for Advisors Excel, a role she began in January 2019.
Her career has also included significant leadership positions in community and religious organizations.
She served as the Director of Event Management at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church from March 2016 to October 2018 and continues to work there as Senior Creative Director, a contract position she has held since September 2010.
Between October 2018 and March 2019, Amy worked as the Director of Event Management at V2 Content in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Throughout her career, Amy has balanced her professional achievements with her role as a wife and mother to three daughters – Emily, Campbell, and Taylor.
Her strong media background and commitment to community service have made her a respected figure in both Nebraska and Kansas broadcasting circles.
Additional Information
- During a special moment in the football season, Sharpe’s radio presence continued even when he couldn’t be in the booth – he participated in segments during the Huskers Radio Network pregame coverage for each game.
- Among his most memorable calls, as noted by HuskerMax writer Dave Feit, were the Hail Mary from Ron Kellog to Jordan Westerkaamp and his emotional call of the missing punter formation in honor of Sam Foltz.
- In his role at WIBW-TV, where he started as an intern in 1986, Sharpe worked under sports director Ron Paradis, and this early experience launched his broadcasting career before he moved to radio.
