Men’s Basketball Analyst Mark Freidinger Announces Retirement Following Legendary 35-Year Run
10/22/2025 1:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Freidinger provided men’s basketball commentary for 35 years as a member of the Demon Deacons broadcasting team as Stan Cotten will solo call games for the 2025-26 season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Following a 35-year career calling some of the highest moments in Wake Forest men's basketball history, Mark Freidinger has announced his retirement. Friedinger served as the analyst for Demon Deacon men's basketball beginning during the 1991 season.
"It's been my honor to be a part of Wake Forest basketball for over 40 years," Freidinger said. "My thanks to Dr. Gene Hooks and Ben Sutton for the opportunity to be a part of the radio team. I was fortunate to be partnered with two talented play-by-play broadcasters in Stan Cotten and Mac McDonald, luckier still to call them friends. What an amazing journey it's been; it was a privilege to help coach players like Alvis Rogers, Frank Johnson, Guy Morgan, Kenny Green, Danny Young, Anthony Teachey, Lee Garber, Delaney Rudd, Muggsy Bogues and so many others. It was a labor of love calling the games of players like Rodney Rogers, Randolph Childress, Tim Duncan, Rusty LaRue, Josh Howard, Chris Paul, Ish Smith, John Collins, Alondes Williams and all the rest. Thank you, men. Watching you blossom on and off the court was a joy.
"Many thanks to all of the coaches and their staffs I covered during my time as a broadcaster. Dave Odom, Skip Prosser, Dino Gaudio, Jeff Bzdelik, Danny Manning and Steve Forbes all were class acts and great stewards of this storied program. I'll cherish memories off the air of just talking hoops. I'm forever grateful to everyone who is a part of the Wake Forest and ACC communities - from people in athletic departments, coaches across the conference, fellow broadcasters, sports information directors, sports writers in the media to the staffs at the Joel and other arenas, I've been blessed with so many friends due to basketball. Finally, a most important thank you to all of the Wake Forest fans, thanks for listening. Your well wishes and kind regards about the broadcasts over the years were always gratifying to hear. I'll miss calling the games, but I'll miss the behind the scenes social interactions with all of you the most."
Freidinger was part of the first Wake Forest International Sports Properties (ISP) team that formed in 1991, managed by alum Ben Sutton ('80, '83 JD).
For nearly three decades, Friedinger partnered with play-by-play announcer Stan Cotten, the "Voice of the Demon Deacons," to cover men's basketball games. The pair called more than 1,000 games while also highlighting 10 Deacs named All-Americans, five ACC Players of the Year and three head coaches honored as ACC Coach of the Year. During his first five seasons on the call, Friedinger was joined by Mac MacDonald.
Prior to his work as a broadcaster, Freidinger served as a men's basketball assistant coach at Kansas under coaching legend Larry Brown from 1985-87. He was also an assistant coach for the Deacs from 1981-85 under Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famer Carl Tacy, helping guide the team to three seasons of 20-plus wins.
Additionally, Freidinger previously worked as a scout for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.
Entering his 30th season with Wake Forest Athletics, Cotten will solo call men's basketball games during the 2025-26 season.
What They're Saying:
"It's been my honor to be a part of Wake Forest basketball for over 40 years," Freidinger said. "My thanks to Dr. Gene Hooks and Ben Sutton for the opportunity to be a part of the radio team. I was fortunate to be partnered with two talented play-by-play broadcasters in Stan Cotten and Mac McDonald, luckier still to call them friends. What an amazing journey it's been; it was a privilege to help coach players like Alvis Rogers, Frank Johnson, Guy Morgan, Kenny Green, Danny Young, Anthony Teachey, Lee Garber, Delaney Rudd, Muggsy Bogues and so many others. It was a labor of love calling the games of players like Rodney Rogers, Randolph Childress, Tim Duncan, Rusty LaRue, Josh Howard, Chris Paul, Ish Smith, John Collins, Alondes Williams and all the rest. Thank you, men. Watching you blossom on and off the court was a joy.
"Many thanks to all of the coaches and their staffs I covered during my time as a broadcaster. Dave Odom, Skip Prosser, Dino Gaudio, Jeff Bzdelik, Danny Manning and Steve Forbes all were class acts and great stewards of this storied program. I'll cherish memories off the air of just talking hoops. I'm forever grateful to everyone who is a part of the Wake Forest and ACC communities - from people in athletic departments, coaches across the conference, fellow broadcasters, sports information directors, sports writers in the media to the staffs at the Joel and other arenas, I've been blessed with so many friends due to basketball. Finally, a most important thank you to all of the Wake Forest fans, thanks for listening. Your well wishes and kind regards about the broadcasts over the years were always gratifying to hear. I'll miss calling the games, but I'll miss the behind the scenes social interactions with all of you the most."
Freidinger was part of the first Wake Forest International Sports Properties (ISP) team that formed in 1991, managed by alum Ben Sutton ('80, '83 JD).
For nearly three decades, Friedinger partnered with play-by-play announcer Stan Cotten, the "Voice of the Demon Deacons," to cover men's basketball games. The pair called more than 1,000 games while also highlighting 10 Deacs named All-Americans, five ACC Players of the Year and three head coaches honored as ACC Coach of the Year. During his first five seasons on the call, Friedinger was joined by Mac MacDonald.
Prior to his work as a broadcaster, Freidinger served as a men's basketball assistant coach at Kansas under coaching legend Larry Brown from 1985-87. He was also an assistant coach for the Deacs from 1981-85 under Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famer Carl Tacy, helping guide the team to three seasons of 20-plus wins.
Additionally, Freidinger previously worked as a scout for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.
Entering his 30th season with Wake Forest Athletics, Cotten will solo call men's basketball games during the 2025-26 season.
What They're Saying:
- Wake Forest University Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie:
- "Mark Freidinger has been an integral part of the Wake Forest family for more than four decades — first as a coach, then as a trusted and passionate voice of Demon Deacon basketball. His deep knowledge of the game, love for Wake Forest, and genuine care for people have made him a beloved figure across our community and the ACC. On behalf of Demon Deacon Nation, we thank Mark for his extraordinary service and the countless memories he's helped create for generations of fans."
- Wake Forest Athletics Play-by-Play Announcer Stan Cotten:
- "I simply couldn't have asked for a better partner and friend. Mark's passion for basketball and his ability to communicate it to our fans on the radio over the years was truly inspiring. And to do it so well for 35 years was incredible. He was so respected across the country in basketball circles, and I was the very lucky one to be able to sit beside him for three decades. There's only one Dinger, and words just can't express how much I'll miss him. I'm so grateful he was, and always will be, ours."
- Wake Forest Head Men's Basketball Coach Steve Forbes:
- "Dinger is a basketball savant and someone my staff and I hold in the highest regard. We cherished every moment we spent traveling with him on the road or before our home games, listening to him share his experience and keen perspective regarding the game we love so very much. I can't thank him enough for the lifetime memories he created for all Demon Deacon fans who listened to his in-game analysis over the past 35 years. I will miss seeing him before and after every game."
- Wake Forest Men's Basketball Alum Danny Young ('84):
- "I want to congratulate Dinger on an outstanding career. When I first got to Wake, he was one of the assistant coaches and I learned a lot from him. He was always upbeat, positive and brought a lot of energy to practices each and every day–that's one thing I remember about Coach Dinger. After I left and would come back and he was on the radio, he would bring me over and have me talk. I always appreciated that. I wish him the best."
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