ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - John Anderson, the longtime SportsCenter anchor and a University of Missouri Graduate in 1987, is joining the Missouri School of Journalism faculty.
On Monday, the school announced Anderson will join the school as the school's Endowed Chair in Radio and Television Journalism. Anderson will officially join the faculty in the spring semester which begins January 2025.
"Why wouldn’t you want to go play for the Yankees?" said Anderson, who will also hold the position of professional practice professor. "That’s what Mizzou is. If you’re going to go play, why not go play for the team with all the world titles? I could not have thought of a better post-ESPN landing spot."
Anderson, most known for his time with ESPN as an anchor for SportsCenter and host of Wipeout on ABC, graduated from the University of Missouri in 1987.
Anderson is due to retire from SportsCenter, announcing in March of his departure from SportsCenter at the conclusion of his contract, which will expire at the end of the month. His last show is scheduled for Friday, June 28.
Anderson has kept in touch with his alma mater since his graduation in 1987. He served as grand marshal at the Tigers' homecoming football game in 2002 and has sponsored a Mizzou student internship at ESPN for the past 22 years.
"I come from a line of educators," Anderson said. "My grandparents were teachers, and my mother, being raised by those people, had respect for teachers. Two of my uncles taught math. That sort of trickled down to me."
Anderson will still have some duties at ESPN, maintaining some track and field broadcast assignments for the network.