Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Wooley.
Hi Ryan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was little I wanted to become a professional wrestler, and with my name being Wooley — I wanted to be called “The Wooley Mammoth”! But as time went on I knew that I didn’t want to be on the road 300+ days a year and changed it to a wrestling announcer, but still thought I’d be on the road too much, so then I changed my career path to becoming a sports broadcaster.
My high school (Westland John Glenn) didn’t have a radio or TV production class, so when I graduated (2003) I attended Eastern Michigan University and dove head first into anything I could do that had to do with broadcasting. I anchored the weekly news, helped co-create and host a sports show, broadcasted the basketball teams for our student channel, hosted two radio shows, and was also involved in the marching band and basketball pep-band for fun. Upon graduation (2007) I was offered a radio job right out of college at 1270 AM which eventually became 97.1 “The Ticket” and worked my way up from an overnight board operator to the afternoon sports anchor, and stayed there until Covid took my job back in 2020.
During that 13 year stretch I not only worked at the radio station, but I also began broadcasting high school football for a government access station (WLND) for 13 seasons (2003-2015), worked as a weekend sports anchor for WWJ Newsradio 950, became the color analyst for 89.1 WEMU’s coverage of Eastern Michigan University men’s and women’s basketball (2007-2009), and eventually the play-by-play voice of EMU basketball on ESPN+ (2015), and opened up my own DJ company called “Mammoth Entertainment” (2013).
Since Covid I’ve bounced back in a big way as I now deliver play-by-play of high school football and basketball for 93.5 WHMI every Friday night (2021 to now), I taught a semester of radio/tv production at Southfield A&T (2024), took part in a sports broadcasting camp for high school students and do freelance work for Bloomfield Community Television (2025 to now), continue to broadcast Eastern Michigan men’s and women’s basketball on ESPN+ (2015 to now), DJ 15-20 events a year with my DJ company “Mammoth Entertainment”, host game shows at a place called Game Show Battle Rooms (2025-now), and I’m one of the Public Address Announcers for the Detroit Tigers.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not always been a smooth road. I firmly believe the quote that “you’re the sum of all your parts” is true. Whether I was at a job as a freelancer, a part-timer, or working full time, each prepared me for the next. I feel the biggest struggle was losing my job of 13 years due to Covid and having to build myself back up after. But since then I’ve bounced back in a big way as I not only have continued to broadcast high school football and basketball, college basketball, and run my DJ company, but I’m also one of the Public Address Announcers for the Detroit Tigers.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am about to be celebrating 20 years as a professional sports broadcaster/entertainer next April, and I specialize in broadcast media.
I have worked for five radio stations since 2007 (1270 AM, 89.1 WEMU, 97.1 WXYT, WWJ Newsradio 950, and 93.5 WHMI), two TV streaming services (ESPN+, NEWSnet/Sports News Highlights), I am also one of the Public Address Announcers for the Detroit Tigers, I’m a former educator of radio/tv production at Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology, and a local business owner as I run my own DJ company called “Mammoth Entertainment”.
I am most known for my broadcasting work and have been awarded “Best Sportscast” by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters six times (2019, 2018, 2017, 2014, 2013, 2012), and by the Associated press for “Best Sportscast” four times (2017, 2015, 2014, 2013. I’ve also earned “Best Play-By-Play” by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters in 2023, and an “Outstanding Young Alumni” award from Eastern Michigan in 2014.
The thing I am most proud of is that for 20 years I’ve been able to continue to work in an industry that I love. But more importantly doing so while having a family. I’m married to my high school sweetheart and we just celebrated 18 years together and have three amazing kids (14, 12, 6) and being able to share my passion of broadcasting with them by having them come out to games, sit courtside while I broadcast, be in the crowd while I dj a school event, wedding or party, or even just being in the stands while announcing a Tigers game is a thrill that I can’t even describe. They’re my pride and joy. So while I’ve done some amazing things in my career and have been recognized for them, the greatest blessing I have is my family.
As for what sets me apart from others is that I’m willing to do anything in this business. No job is too small for me to do, and I’m not afraid to challenge myself and try new things. I also know that I am not the end all be all when it comes to this line of work, so I’m always willing to learn, evolve, and work with anyone at any level because you never know what experience someone has and you may be the spark that lights their flame of passion for this industry.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think in the next 5-10 years I can see myself heading back into the classroom and working with the next generation of up and coming sportscasters/broadcasters. I mentioned before I didn’t have a broadcast class to take in high school, and when I was at Southfield A&T I absolutely loved working with students that wanted to explore the media production world. And in today’s world there are so many ways for students to get involved with steaming, podcasting, tv, radio, etc. I had some amazing people helping me along the way after high school and I would love to be the bridge of high school to college for the next generation and show them that broadcasting isn’t just about being on air, it’s producing, writing, directing, editing, graphics, and more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MammothEntertainmentDJ.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mammothentertainment/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WooleyMammoth85/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-wooley-405796b/
- Twitter: WooleyMammoth85
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhyLN9AWTNA
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8CcKCqwOJ4
