CSR 356 Bill Raftery

CSR 356 Bill Raftery

Author: Bruce Wawrzyniak December 1, 2025 Duration: 28:21

An Emmy Award winner who fans know as the lead game analyst for FOX Sports' college basketball coverage. Before joining FOX Sports, he spent 32 years covering basketball as an analyst on television and radio for CBS, ESPN and CBS Radio. He has covered the sport's premier events, including the NCAA Tournament, Final Four, the BIG EAST Championship, Big Ten Championship, ACC Championship, SEC Championship and New Jersey Nets telecasts! He began his broadcasting career in 1982 with ESPN, where he served as a game analyst for college basketball through the 2012 season. From 1970-81, he was the head basketball coach at Seton Hall. He served as president of the BIG EAST Coaches Association from 1979-81. Prior to his time at Seton Hall, he coached five years at Fairleigh Dickinson, earning Coach of the Year honors from the New Jersey Basketball Writers Association in his final season with the program. He had played three seasons at LaSalle and following his senior campaign, was drafted by the New York Knicks.


Finding harmony between the roar of the crowd and the quiet of personal conviction is a challenge many face, and that's the central exploration of Catholic Sports Radio. Host Bruce Wawrzyniak facilitates conversations that go beyond scores and stats, delving into how faith informs competition, leadership, and life after the final whistle. Each episode features dialogue with Catholics involved in sports-from professional athletes and Olympic coaches to scholastic officials and clergy serving team communities. These guests share personal stories about integrating their spiritual journey with the intense demands of athletics, offering perspectives on perseverance, ethics, and purpose. The discussions are grounded in real experience, providing relatable insights for anyone navigating their own priorities, whether they are on the field, in the stands, or somewhere in between. This podcast creates a unique space where the parallels between spiritual discipline and athletic discipline become clear, fostering a sense of connection and reflection. It’s not about preaching plays but about understanding the whole person behind the jersey. You'll hear authentic narratives that resonate regardless of your background, highlighting universal themes of struggle, triumph, and balance. Tune in for thoughtful content that challenges the typical sports talk format and offers a deeper, more meaningful listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Catholic Sports Radio
Podcast Episodes
CSR 382 Gabe James [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
(Caution: sad testimony shared by this guest) He is a goalie for the Lake Michigan College Red Hawks, having also played club soccer for the (Premier 1) Force Shockwave. In high school he not only was a two-year varsity…
CSR 381 Peter Piscitello [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:10
He competed in baseball and swimming in high school. To keep active while attending Benedictine College, he started running, which has turned into a lifelong pursuit, gradually moving from 5Ks to half marathons and havin…
CSR 380 Jadin O'Brien [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:40
She competed three months ago at the Winter Olympics in Italy as a member of Team USA bobsled. She is a three-time NCAA indoor pentathlon champion, having competed for the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame.…
CSR 379 Fr Jon Polce [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:56
He played basketball and baseball in high school, when he also umpired the latter sport for about four years. He has also refereed some basketball games, plus, he has continued to play in pickup leagues his whole life, i…
CSR 378 Nick Rennpage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:13
As a student-athlete, he competed in swimming, water polo, and sailing, and he later coached swimming at the municipal, club, and high school levels. In addition to having turned to cycling, he is the Mission Officer at…
CSR 377 Gavin Doty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:26
He last month led Siena University to the NCAA men's college basketball tournament for the first time since 2010, by way of capturing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship. He was the MAAC Tournament MVP, a…
CSR 376 Sam Goodwin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:49
He played hockey growing up and then went on to not only play junior hockey in Dallas for the Texas Tornado, but from there earned a D1 athletic scholarship to Niagara University. During his freshman year at Niagara, he…
CSR 375 Dr Michael Donato [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:17
He works as a sports medicine podiatrist. At Princeton University he had played four years of varsity baseball and one year of varsity hockey. In high school he had played four years of varsity hockey, freshman baseball…
CSR 374 Britta Curl-Salemme [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:43
She just won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Italy in February as a member of the U.S. women's ice hockey team. She is a forward in her second season with the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey Lea…
CSR 373 Michael Sharman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:12
A senior at Clemson University where he is a pitcher on the men's baseball team. Through his first six games played in 2026 he had a 4-1 won-lost record over 32 and two-thirds innings pitched and an earned run average of…