Robert Sagendorf was named the Assistant Men's Golf Coach in the Spring of 2025.
A 1972 graduate of Naugatuck High School, Sagendorf began his broadcasting career in 1975 on WOWW-AM in Naugatuck, Connecticut. He served in many capacities, ranging from news anchor to afternoon host to News and Sports Director. In 1978, the station became WNVR. It was at 14-NVR that Sagendorf met his longtime friend, Chris Berman. The two co-hosted a popular nighttime sports talk show entitled "Calling All Sports".
Sagendorf worked in the Connecticut market until 1985, when the man who teamed him up with Chris Berman, Joe McCoy, hired him as production director of the nation's leading oldies radio station, WCBS-FM in New York City. During his time at CBS-FM, Sagendorf not only built one of the most profitable commercial production departments in New York Radio, but he also branched out in music production with Columbia/Sony Records, working with Billy Joel, among others, and became one of the first digital audio editors in the radio industry. As opportunities called at CBS, Sagendorf helped produce the first five Rock and Roll Hall of Fame national radio specials, did fill-in anchor work for CBS Radio Sports, and was the primary promotional voice of CBS Radio Sports from 1987-1991.
In 1991, Sagendorf received a call from his friend Chris. ESPN wanted to build a national sports radio network, and would he come help with the process. On November 12, 1991, Sagendorf became the first employee and one of the primary architects of ESPN Radio, designing and implementing the operational infrastructure. He served as Operations Manager until February of 2000, overseeing the launch of all programs, including ESPN Sports Weekend talk shows, Sports Beat with Brent Musburger, The Fabulous Sports Babe, The NBA on ESPN Radio, MLB on ESPN Radio, and ESPN Radio's Extra Point with Chris Berman. By 2000, Sagendorf was ready to accept a new challenge at ESPN, remote producer for The NBA on ESPN Radio, MLB on ESPN Radio, and college football bowl games on ESPN Radio.
During his time at ESPN, Sagendorf also became the lead voice for many ESPN signature programs, which included, NFL Countdown, NFL Primetime, NFL Sunday Night Football, NFL Monday Night Countdown, National Hockey Night, College basketball and football, The Tour de France, The U.S. Open Golf Championship, The British Open Golf Championship and many college bowl games.
At one point, Sagendorf's voice could be heard in over 40 million homes a night in the U.S. and 169 countries around the world on ESPN International.
In 2001, Sagendorf wanted to get back to local radio and television in addition to his ESPN Radio work. So, for the next 10 years, he would be the News and Sports Director of WATR-AM, anchoring morning drive news and sports heard weekday mornings. He was also heard Friday nights doing play-by-play for Connecticut high school football and basketball for WATR-AM, Bird's Eye Sports, and The Connecticut Sports Network (CTSN).
Sagendorf was also one of the primary architects of CTSN, the Connecticut Sports Television Network, a joint venture between Connecticut Public Television and WFSB-TV Channel 3, bringing high school and small college sports to Connecticut television viewers. CTSN was branded as CPTV Sports.
In addition to his local radio and television duties, Sagendorf has served as an adjunct instructor of Journalism and Radio Production at Briarwood College, which became known as Lincoln College of New England. He has mentored hundreds of high school students in the Greater Waterbury, Connecticut area. Additionally, he has served as Director of Membership for the historic Country Club of Waterbury. He has served on the Board of Directors for Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury, is a member of the Scholarship Committee of The Naugatuck Exchange Club, past chairman of the 65 Roses Golf Tournament, an outing that generated 60-70 thousand dollars annually for Cystic Fibrosis during his 10-year run. He has also served myriad charities, among them, The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Waterbury, Naugatuck Youth Services, Waterbury Youth Services, Naugatuck Teen Theatre, all in fundraising capacities.
Sagendorf has been awarded U.S. Senatorial and Congressional, State of Connecticut special citations for his work with various charities and youth organizations. In 2009, he was elected to the Naugatuck Hall of Fame for his outstanding work and achievements in Broadcasting.
He currently lectures twice a year at the prestigious Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California in addition to his assistant coaching duties.
