Cumulus Media Sports 680 KNBR San Francisco has announced the addition of Mark Willard as host of KNBR Tonight from 7-10pm weekdays.
Willard joins KNBR from iHeartMedia Sports “Xtra 1360” KLSD San Diego where he co-hosted 12-3pm with Rich Ohrnberger. Willard also has hosted shows for Fox Sports Radio and previously worked at ESPN’s “710 ESPN” KSPN Los Angeles.
With the addition of Willard, Drew Hoffar will move from 7-10pm to 10pm-12am. Hoffar will also host KNBR’s San Francisco 49ers pre-game shows. Hoffar’s two co-hosts have exited KNBR. Former San Francisco Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen will take on an increased role on Philadelphia Phillies radio broadcasts, while Ryan Covay has jumped to Entercom’s “95.7 The Game” KGMZ for weekends and fill-ins.
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that it has appointed Bay Area on-air personality Mark Willard as Host of “KNBR Tonight”, a two-part weeknight show on San Francisco sports radio station KNBR 680. Willard will debut on KNBR on Monday, February 18th. He will host the 7p-10p portion of “KNBR Tonight”, while current KNBR 680 host Drew Hoffar moves to a new timeslot hosting “KNBR Tonight” from 10p-Midnight, as they team up to entertain the Bay Area’s most passionate sports fans at night.
Jeremiah Crowe, Program Director, KNBR, said: “I’m extremely excited to welcome Mark back to the Bay Area and into our KNBR family. “KNBR Tonight” is about connecting with fans as the games are being played, and Mark will excel in that arena across all KNBR platforms. Listeners now also get to hear Drew shine as a solo host in his own time slot. “KNBR Tonight” will continue to serve as THE nightly destination for local sports talk, and I can’t wait to hear these two dynamic personalities back-to-back on The Sports Leader!”
Willard is a Foster City native who comes to KNBR from a midday hosting role with XTRA 1360AM in San Diego. He has previously hosted shows on FOX Sports Radio Network, as well as 710 ESPN and ESPN’s SportsNation, based in Los Angeles. He is a lifelong fan of Bay Area sports teams.
Willard said: “It is an absolute dream come true to come home and join KNBR. My primary career goal has been to have the opportunity to connect with Bay Area sports fans, so listeners can rest assured, I will never take the relationship for granted. I want to thank Jeremiah Crowe, Doug Harvill and Cumulus’ corporate leadership team for their vision. And I want to thank my wife and kids for supporting me through this adventure!”
Hoffar grew up in San Leandro and been a host on KNBR for over three years, first as primary host of “The Audible” morning show on KNBR 1050, then as the lead host of “KNBR Tonight” on KNBR 680.Hoffar said: “I am grateful and excited to land in this new 10pm-Midnight timeslot, plus provide pregame coverage for the 49ers and Warriors. I was raised on KNBR and am looking forward to both growing my on-air career with the station and adding to its legacy as ‘The Sports Leader!’”
Willard’s producer, Jon Schaeffer, slides into the Willard chair… for the time being. He… is not comfortable there.