The veteran sports broadcaster in Pueblo this week officially was named the "Voice of the Pack" as he will call Colorado State University-Pueblo football games on the radio.

The school announced a five-year contract extension with KCSJ (AM 590) that will keep the ThunderWolves' football and men's and women's basketball games on the air through the 2014-15 seasons.

Brooks is a familiar voice to Southern Colorado sports fans. He covered high school sports on the radio from 1981-87 and again from 1989-92, and worked a two-year stint covering the then-USC Indians from 1987-89.

"I'm very excited to get back to my radio roots," Brooks said. "You control what the listener sees in their mind. I get to paint the picture for them. ThunderWolves football is the No. 1 game in town. They draw the most consistent crowds. Sure the Bell and Cannon games have larger numbers but that's a one-game season ticket for most in attendance."

Brooks, 48, graduated from South High School (1980) and USC (1984) with a degree in mass communications. He was a member of the Colts' 1978 state high school champion golf team and played golf for the Indians for four years. He lettered two years each in basketball and baseball with the Colts and pitched for the Elks legion team that won a state title in 1979.

He, too, is a four-time City golf champion.

Joining Brooks in the booth this fall is Chieftain Deputy Sports Editor Joe E. Cervi. He has been a sportswriter for 22 years — the last 16 with the Chieftain. Cervi has covered all beats and has been the CSU-Pueblo football beat writer since the program's resurrection three-plus years ago. He was the color analyst for ThunderWolves' road games last season.

Brooks and Cervi also combine to form the primary broadcast team for CNM Sports, a television production arm of Pueblo Community College and CSU-Pueblo. They will embark this September on their 11th season together in that capacity (Brooks has been with CNM Sports since 1997).

CSU-Pueblo Athletic Director Joe Folda said said the school was "extremely happy" with the new radio contract.

"I'm also happy with our new announcers. Jim Brooks was our announcer when I first came here in 1987 and he was awesome so personally, I am thrilled he's back," Folda added. "J.J. (Valentine) did a good job for us during his tenure with us, but we're excited for the new contract and direction."

Scott Jones, General Manager for Clear Channel Southern Colorado, said the contract extension is good for all parties.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the excitement that’s going on at CSU-Pueblo,” Jones said. “To be locked in for another five years of bringing that excitement to ThunderWolves’ fans is something we’re looking forward to and take very seriously.”

The agreement includes broadcast of all home and away football games, as well as 52 men’s and women’s basketball games during every season.