Audacy Classic Rock 98.5 WNCX Cleveland has announced the addition of Matt Spatz to host mornings starting Monday, October 6.

Spatz will succeed the retiring Slats. He most recently served as Program Director and morning host at Rubber City Radio Classic Rock 97.5 WONE-FM Akron until exiting at the end of June. He joined WONE-FM in January 2021 to host mornings with Amanda Casey and added the PD role that December. Spatz previously worked on-air at WONE from 1994-1997 and later programmed WROV Roanoke VA from 2006-2007, WNCD and WAKZ Youngstown OH from 2007-2011 and WYFM and WWIZ Youngstown from 2013 until rejoining WONE.

He commented, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have some great W’s in my career — WLVQ, WROV, WYFM, WONE, WRQK and WNCD, to name a few — but having the opportunity to take the morning reins from Slats at WNCX in my hometown is truly a dream come true. Thank you so much to the Audacy Cleveland team led by Jeff Miller, Chase Daniels and Nard; as well as to Jeff Sottolano, Dave Richards and Vince Richards for your trust and belief in me. Can’t wait to get started!”

Brand Manager Dom ‘Nard’ Nardella said, “Slats is a true Cleveland legend, and we can’t thank him enough for being the rock of our mornings for so long. We are delighted for Spatz to bring his dynamic energy and a deep passion for rock music. He is inheriting an important legacy and we are confident in his ability to connect with our listeners and excited for how he shapes the future of mornings on WNCX.”

Tim ‘Slats’ Guinane had announced his intent to retire this fall in August after anchoring mornings since 2011. He previously worked in the market at 100.7 WMMS, 92.3 WXTM and WNCX in the late 90s and early 2000s as part of a career that has also taken him to KAWY Casper WY, KEZO Omaha, WDIZ/WHTQ/WJRR Orlando, WKDF Nashville, WZGC Atlanta, and KISS San Antonio.

Slats commented, “21 years in Cleveland, 14 years at WNCX, and it’s been an honor and a privilege. I’ll see ya around… Avon, OH-IO.”