Radio One Sports 610 WFNZ Charlotte/92.7 WFNZ-FM Harrisburg NC has announced the appointment of Jeff Rickard as Program Director.
Rickard most recently spent five months as Brand Manager of Audacy Sports 93.7 WEEI Boston and its regional network across New England before exiting in January. Rickard joined WEEI in August 2021 from Emmis’ “93.5/107.5 The Fan” WIBC-HD2 Indianapolis where he served as PD/Morning Host. He also hosts shows for SiriusXM. Rickard previously served as a a host for ESPN Radio, Sporting News Radio, KKFN Denver, and Comcast’s CN8 regional television network in the northeast and programmed KFNZ Salt Lake City from 1999 to 2004.
Rickard fills the programming slot that had been held by Terry Foxx until his move to the University of Texas’ Public News/Talk 90.5 KUT Austin in February.
Radio One Charlotte’s Heritage Sports Talk Station WFNZ AM/FM welcomes veteran industry talent and programmer, Jeff Rickard, as the new Program Director for Charlotte’s Sports Leader effective Monday, May 16, 2022.
Jeff has an extensive sports broadcasting and management background working for COMCAST TV, ESPN Radio, and Sirius XM. He hosted “Gamenight” on ESPN Radio and serving as the managing editor and anchor of a Boston-based program on the Comcast Network. Most recently, Jeff was the Brand Manager for WEEI in Boston and for seven years prior to that the Program Director and Morning Show host for WFNI The Fan in Indianapolis. He has also frequently been called upon to host pre or post game shows from the Superbowl, Final Four, and CFB National Championship games.
“We are committed to making sports radio even bigger in Charlotte, adding the 92.7 FM signal in March was just the beginning of that commitment,” said Marsha Landess, Regional Vice President. “Having a successful veteran like Jeff Rickard join our team will help take us to the level that a passionate sports city like Charlotte deserves. Jeff brings to WFNZ extensive sports experience, talent, drive, and a passion for success. He will be a great complement to our incredibly talented local Charlotte on-air team. After our first conversation I knew he was the one to take us to the next level. As the flagship station for the Charlotte Hornets as well as Charlotte FC we are looking forward to an incredibly successful future with Jeff leading the charge.”
“I had been planning on taking a professional sabbatical this year but after meeting with Marsha Landess and learning more about Radio One, I began to get more excited to get back to work.” Jeff continues, “Radio One as a Company, combined with Marsha’s leadership and the potential for WFNZ, was just too appealing to not be a part of. I am extremely grateful to Radio One for this opportunity and can’t wait to start working with the talented staff in Charlotte. My family and I are all in on this situation and can’t wait to get started on this new chapter.”
