Matt Graifer

Matt Graifer entertains always! He shares his experience as The Savannah Bananas Cast Director and in-game host to help businesses engage their customers in every aspect of the customer journey.

Better known as The Young Professor—who at this point has matured and is no longer a professor—Graifer brings the energy and excitement to every field, every stage and media moment!

Aside from his electric on-field performances with the Savannah Bananas as an in-game host, he also serves as the organization’s Cast Director. Graifer oversees the recruitment, coaching, and management of performers across the Banana Ball Championship League. He also writes, produces, and directs live entertainment that has helped redefine the fan experience in sports. Every moment of customer engagement matters and Graifer shares how the Bananas do it and how you can too.

His career began in education, where he became a college professor at just 25 years old and spent more than a decade teaching exercise science and later high school social studies. While teaching, he moonlighted as a trivia host throughout Central Florida, eventually adopting the memorable stage name “The Young Professor” and developing the larger-than-life personality and signature flashy suits that have become his trademark.

Before becoming a Banana, Graifer added excitement into other sports entertainment working as a professional wrestling ring announcer and in-game host for the Jacksonville Sharks before adding MMA, boxing, Minor League Baseball, and NCAA athletics to his résumé. Professor has also hosted marquee events for the NHL, NASCAR, the PPA Tour, Major League Paintball, and ESPN, where he served as lead anchor for The Goodyear Blimp Sky Race of the Century during ESPN: The Ocho.

His announcing résumé includes introducing icons such as John Cena, Dirk Nowitzki, Terrell Owens, Andre Agassi, Ryan Howard, Kurt Busch, Goofy, SpongeBob SquarePants, O.A.R., Riley Green, and many more.

Graifer lives in Florida with his wife, Shanna, and their children: Finn, Morrigan, Adam, and Lilian.