Jeff Rickard

PROFILE

Talented, versatile and decorated sports broadcaster with extensive experience in talk radio, television and play-by-play.

EXPERIENCE

TALK SHOW HOST, STUDIO HOST, PLAY-BY-PLAY HOST
ESPN Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio 2010-Present
Broadcasting for two of the worlds largest providers of sports radio content as a contract employee. I am a regular host of Late Hits on SiriusXM NFL Radio and Hot Stove on MLB Network Radio, Fantasy Sports Radio as well as a fill-in host on Mad Dog Sports radio and College Sports Nation. I work 3 to 6 times a month at ESPN Radio as a fill-in host on shows such as “The Herd” and “The Scott Van Pelt Show.” I also host live events ranging from NCAA Football to NCAA basketball and MLB games.

TV ANCHOR, MANAGING EDITOR, PLAY-BY-PLAY HOST
CN8 The Comcast Network - Boston, Phila., Wash. DC 2008-2010
Served as the anchor of a half-hour, nightly sports highlight, news and debate show on one of America’s largest cable networks. In addition to serving as a writer and editor of the program I also performed as the station’s lead play-by-play host for col- lege football, basketball and professional boxing. Received two Emmy nominations for best Sports Anchor and Best Nightly Sports Show. Continued to work part-time as a fill-in host at ESPN Radio

SPORTS TALK SHOW HOST, STUDIO HOST
ESPN Radio - Bristol Connecticut 2006-2008
Full-time and regular host of ESPN Radio’s Gamenight, the original flagship show of the Network. Performed live talk broadcasts giving instant reaction, analysis and opinion for major sporting events as they happened. Frequently interviewed the big- gest and most important sports figures of the time while hosting this live show. Also served as a host for specialty shows such as The NFL on ESPN Radio, The NFL Huddle with Mike Ditka and occasional web-shows on ESPN3. Occasionally performed as a fill-in host for “Mike and Mike” and “The Dan Patrick Show.”

SPORTS TALK SHOW HOST, STUDIO HOST
Sporting News Radio, Chicago, IL 2004-2006
Performed as the mid-day sports-talk host on one of America’s largest All Sports Radio networks. Show cleared in more than 100 markets nationwide. Continued to provide occasional play-by-play services for SportsWest Produc- tions for college football and basketball broadcasts on the West Coast. Acted as a studio host for pre-game coverage of NFL Sundays with live interviews of on-site reporters, coaches and players prior to kick-off of each week’s contests. Served as a studio host and on-site reporter for Super Bowls and the NCAA Tournament.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, RADIO AND TV HOST, PLAY-BY-PLAY
KFNZ-AM and KENZ-AM Radio, KJZZ-TV - SLC, UTAH 1999-2004
Programmed and operated two all sports radio stations for Citadel Communications. KFNZ was the flagship for the Utah Jazz NBA team. During my term the station competed with several well-funded rival sports stations in the market and won 16 of 19 ratings periods with those stations. A regular top 5 performer for Men 25-54 the station set both ratings and revenue marks at various times during my tenure. I also performed as a play-by-play host for the WNBA’s Utah STARZZ and acted as KJZZ-TV’s television studio an- chor for NBA, College Football and Basketball Broadcasts. Provided play-by-play for KJZZ-TV for select University of Utah, Utah State and BYU Football and basketball games.

TALK SHOW HOST, NBA & NHL STUDIO HOST, PLAY-BY-PLAY
KKFN Radio, Western Athletic Conference, Fox Sports Rocky Mountain - Denver, CO 1995-1999
Started at KKFN Radio as the evening sports talk show host and graduated quickly to becoming morning drive and eventually mid-day host on Denver’s highest rated All Sports Radio Station. In addition to serving as the beat reporter for the NFL’s Denver Broncos, I was also the studio host for the Denver Nuggets Radio Network and the Colorado Avalanche Radio network, providing pre-game, half-time and post-game segments. Served as sideline reporter for Colorado State University Football games, back-up play-by-play on CSU Basketball contests. During this time I was also a play-by-play host for many WAC College Football and volleyball games on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain and independent stations. Was the play-by-play voice of the Colorado State High School football and basketball championships. Served as the play-by-play voice of Metro State College basketball for two seasons, the second of which the team won the NCAA Division II Championship (2002).

TV SPORTS DIRECTOR AND RADIO PROGRAM DIRECTOR
KREX-TV - GRAND JCT., CO KTVQ-TV - BILLINGS, MT KEPR-TV - PASCO, WA KORD-AM RADIO - PASCO, WA 1986 - 1995
Performed as on-air anchor and play-by-play man for 3 CBS television affiliates. Duties including supervising small staff of anchors and reporters, scheduling assignments and coordinating with News Director on local sports coverage. Started the first ever All Sports Radio station in Southern Washington while serving as the play-play host for the Tri-Indianapolis, IN Chinook of the CBA. Acquired programming, scheduled staff, wrote contracts and acted as a community ambassador for the station and the team.

EDUCATION

COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY (MESA COLLEGE) 1981-1986
MASS COMM. WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BROADCAST JOURNALISM

REFERRALS

Jeff Rickard has my strong recommendation for any sports broadcasting management or talent position. Jeff served as Program Manager and on-air host of Citadel's two Salt Lake Indianapolis, IN sports radio stations for five years. "K-FAN 1320", a live local sports station, was the flagship station of the Utah Jazz radio network. "ESPN Radio 1230" was the Salt Lake affiliate of the ESPN Radio Network and carried the play-by-play of AAA baseball and PCL hockey.

Jeff cultivated a strong relationship with key sports figures in the Salt Lake market and the national sports scene. He was the key liaison between our company and our most important partners: the Utah Jazz management. During Jeff’s tenure, the stations enjoyed dominant ratings and generated healthy BCF.

Jeff has great leadership skills. He was able to manage and motivate an air staff of highly temperamental "celebrity" sports anchors from local TV and newspapers. Jeff possesses a high level of integrity. He addressed every management challenge in a positive and constructive manner.

Eric Hauenstein - General Manager of Citadel Salt Lake Indianapolis, IN

Richard Deitsch of SI.com praised Rickard's work with ESPN Radio when he named him the 2006 and 2007 Sports Illustrated Radio Personality of the Year by saying:
“There are bigger and more famous hosts on ESPN Radio, but like Fowler and Brown, Rickard stands out for his understated professionalism. He's a sports-talk host who opts for a reasoned and mannered approach to topics. No screaming. No shtick. No declaring to his audience why he's the smartest guy in the room. Every time I heard him in 2006 -- and I heard him with about seven different partners -- he never failed to provide well-thought-out opinions.