Charlie Neal, an HBCU broadcasting legend, died on Wednesday following an illness. He was 80.

Neal was widely recognized as one of the most influential voices in Black college sports, spending decades bringing HBCU football and basketball to national audiences. According to HBCU Gameday, his career helped shine a spotlight on HBCU athletes, traditions and culture during a time when mainstream coverage was limited.

Born on Oct. 28, 1945, Neal joined BET in 1980 and quickly became a central figure in the network’s sports programming.

Neal started his broadcasting career more than 40 years ago as a disc jockey before turning to television as a sportscaster working for several affiliates in the Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. markets.

He spent 23 years with BET as the lead commentator for Black college sports. He joined ESPN in 2005, primarily serving as play-by-play announcer for HBCU football and basketball telecasts on ESPNU.

His contributions earned numerous honors, including inductions into the MEAC Hall of Fame, CIAA Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

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