(June 17, 2014) Matt Hammond’s career is on the fast track. Just seven months after hosting his first sports talk show in New Jersey, Hammond is moving to market No. 6. He is the latest STAA client to join 610 KILT in Houston, TX. Hammond will be co-hosting a weekend show, filling in elsewhere, update anchoring, and reporting on the Texans, Rockets and Astros.
Hammond moves to the Lone Star State from Lawrenceville, NJ. He is one of two STAA clients hired by KILT this month. The other has not yet been announced.
“It’s an altogether remarkable opportunity,” says Hammond.
An employee of 97.3 ESPN in Atlantic City since 2011, Hammond has done it all in sports talk radio. He’s been a producer, reporter and sports update anchor. However, it is with sports talk show hosting that his true passion lies.
The latest hires bring to eight the total number of STAA clients that have been employed by KILT in the past three years. It is because of that history that the station contacted STAA in May when the latest positions opened.
“The opportunity was actually something that found me,” says Hammond. “One day out of the blue, I get an email from [STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik] telling me to gather my resume materials as quickly as possible. Maybe 12 hours later, I receive an email from [KILT Program Director Ryan McCredden) asking to set up a phone interview. The rest is history.
“At this point in my career, the next step was always going to be about aligning myself with a management staff that appreciates talent and is invested in developing it and providing it with growth opportunities. Not every station is willing or able to do that. Ryan McCredden and KILT have both the desire and the resources to do so, and to do so in a top six market. That’s rare.
“Altogether, the move was a no-brainer.”
(Visit Matt’s STAA Talent Page).