After nearly eighteen months in Arizona, Sean Thompson is ready to head home. The program director of Arizona Sports is moving back to the east coast to be closer to family.
Thompson made the move to Phoenix in January 2022, leaving 92.9 The Game in Atlanta. He had been a part of the Atlanta sports station since its inception. Though the opportunity to lead and grow with Bonneville was exciting and rewarding, the distance away from loved ones proved to be too difficult. In the end, Thompson decided being near family was the wiser move for all involved.
“Ryan Hatch and Bonneville have been great to me, and this opportunity was everything I hoped it’d be and more,” Thompson told BSM on Monday night. “I’ve learned a lot and grown as a programmer here, but it’s been a challenge being so far away from my family. That made it harder to adjust than I expected. I’m thankful that I had a chance to work with a great team and I am proud of what we did together. They deserve someone who is all-in, and I’m excited to see where they go next because the sky is the limit.”
Sean’s final day with Arizona Sports will be Friday June 16th. He’s planning to return to New Jersey where his mother resides. He says that once he gets settled, he’s hoping to work again in the industry. Where and when that happens will depend on timing and opportunity.
“If you know Sean, you know he’s all character with a heart of gold,” added Bonneville Phoenix Market Manager Ryan Hatch. “While we will miss him, we respect and support his decision to be closer to family.”
The Arizona Sports program director job immediately becomes one of the more attractive openings in sports radio. Bonneville has enjoyed a long run of success in the desert, thanks to strong leadership, a talented air staff, and owning the play-by-play rights to the majority of Phoenix’s local teams. Ryan Hatch plans to start searching immediately for a strong and capable leader.
“We have a great brand, an all star team, and now an exciting opportunity for someone to lead the next wave of evolution and innovation at Arizona Sports. I’m looking forward to seeing where this process takes us.”
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
