After graduating from Penn State University with a degree in journalism in 2007, Pittsburgh native Chris Mueller took an ad-sales job in Philadelphia. For a variety of reasons, it didn’t work out so he moved back to Pittsburgh where family members tried to convince him to enter a contest for the local ESPN Radio affiliate for a chance to win a six-month contract to host a sports-talk show.
At first, Mueller was hesitant to do it, but his sister-in-law finally “twisted his arm” enough to enter the “Top Fan” contest.
“I frankly thought there were going to be people who were way better who were trying out,” recalled Mueller. “I ended up winning. I was 23 years old in 2008 solo hosting by the end of that summer. You pinch yourself and realize how fortunate you are to have been in a situation, and a time and place, and how much luck and good timing played a role in things.”
When that six-month contract was over, Mueller relocated back to Penn State territory moving to State College to do sales for a radio station. In 2010, as he was busy putting together demo tapes from his experience at ESPN Radio, Mueller found out from a friend that there were plans in place for a new all-sports radio station back home in Pittsburgh.
Today, people who are looking for on-air jobs in radio will generally submit an mp3 demo to a program director, but back then Mueller did it the old-fashioned way.
“For people reading this now they will probably laugh but actual demo CD’s and not just an mp3 file,” said Mueller.
Admittedly, Mueller did not expect any kind of response but that demo CD impressed Terry Fox, the first Program Director at 93.7 FM The Fan in Pittsburgh. After listening to the CD, it took less than an hour for Fox to call Mueller and arrange an interview.
So, Mueller hopped in his car in the middle of a blizzard and drove from State College to Pittsburgh for the interview. His hope was simply to land a part-time gig that would bring him home again and be part of something new and exciting.
As it turns out, Mueller hit the jackpot.
“Low and behold, I got probably the best surprise of my life 3 or 4 days later when [Terry Foxx] called and said ‘We’re starting this station in a couple of weeks and we want you to do 2a to 6am.’”
In that moment, Mueller wasn’t thinking about it being the overnight shift or how he was going to come up with topics or if there would even be any callers.
He was just overcome with emotions.
“It was ‘Oh my God! This is actually happening,’” said Mueller. “I’m not embarrassed to say that I distinctly remember a happy cry happening. I tried to call any family member that I could think of what was happening because it was definitely a surreal, unexpected and pretty incredible moment.”
And the moments have been piling up ever since. He’s been with The Fan for thirteen and a half years including more than a decade co-hosting afternoons from 2p-6p, originally with Joe Starkey, and now approaching a five-year anniversary doing The PM Team with Poni and Mueller with Andrew Fillipponi.
There was a time when Mueller was doing the overnights and Fillipponi preceded him from 10pm to 2am and that’s when they got to know each other a little bit. Five years after being paired as a team in the afternoon, they’re crushing it together.
“I’m a little bit of an off the wall guy, and he could be a little bit more nuts and bolts at times and straight ahead but I think the show has blended both of those personalities,” said Mueller. “I think after five years, we both kind of know what the other one likes to do and how the other one likes to go about doing it. I think it makes it really easy to do a show with someone every day. It doesn’t feel like work. It feels like you’re coming in to have fun.”
And fun is what Mueller has had since The Fan went on the air in 2008. It’s special to have been a part of something new, but it’s even better to be a part of the station’s continued success.
Mueller took advantage of an opportunity and he’s run with it, even though it wasn’t really part of his initial plans.
“I feel incredibly fortunate because even coming out of college it was not something I thought I would ever actually get to do for a career,” said Mueller. “I had an inkling of how competitive the business was and almost wasn’t even intending to try to get in.”
Success in sports radio is not a given. For every story like Mueller’s there’s hundreds and perhaps even thousands who either didn’t make it at all or just didn’t have staying power.
Talent can be very subjective in the eyes of radio executives. There’s also not a lot of patience. Mueller is well aware of the landscape.
“I read Barrett Sports Media,” said Mueller. “I understand that not everyone is getting that chance in every market and that there’s a lot of turnover. I feel a ton of pride about being involved with a station that has stood the test of time for almost a decade and a half now.”
Along the way in his career, Mueller has learned a lot about the business from some very important people who have become valuable members of his inner circle.
It goes without saying that his current partner is one of them.
“One of the recurring themes of my life has been people like Andrew Fillipponi,” said Mueller. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with him. I think he’s one of the most talented guys out there.”
Another person who has had a tremendous impact on Mueller is Gregg Giannotti. The current WFAN morning co-host of Boomer and Gio previously hosted mornings in Pittsburgh at 93.7 The Fan before going national with CBS Sports Radio and CBS Sports Network.
“I was fortunate enough to work around Gregg who is unbelievably gifted at this medium,” said Mueller. “Hearing the way he would just structure topics and come up with angles is something that has stuck with me. He has been an unbelievable sounding board for me. I probably annoyed the heck out of him way more times that he would ever admit and I could count asking for advice.”
And there was the time when Mueller had the opportunity to fill-in hosting The DA Show on Audacy-owned CBS Sports Radio. It was a great opportunity for Mueller to work with the show’s producer/personality Shaun Morash who is now part of the afternoon show on WFAN.
“I would like to put this in all caps,” asked Mueller during our phone conversation.
“WORKING ON THE SAME SHOW THAT PRODUCED SHAUN MORASH WAS A TRUE HONOR AND PRIVILEDGE.
“He’s another guy who is similar to me. He’s pursuing a dream. He’s very authentically himself and you come to realize that people really like the way he brings it to the table.”
Mueller has hosted other national shows for CBS Sports Radio which has given him the opportunity to talk about topics that may not necessarily be a fit for the show at home in Pittsburgh.
Initially, Mueller wasn’t sure doing national shows was going to be right for him, but Ken Carman from The Fan in Cleveland convinced him to do it.
“I’m glad that he did because it’s a totally different thing to do,” said Mueller. “It’s fun in a different way. It kind of forces you to flex your brain a little bit. Like the NBA is not a big deal in Pittsburgh. Nobody really follows it but if you’re doing a national show, chances are you’re going to have an NBA topic.”
Mueller’s story is one that should inspire anyone looking to get into radio. These jobs don’t grow on trees but if you want something bad enough and/or are in the right place and right time, things can work out.
Home is where the heart is, but Mueller is not finished climbing up the ladder.
“Once you feel that you’ve gotten to a certain place, you still always want more,” said Mueller. “You want to do better in the ratings. You want to always try to go onward and upward. You want to make the show sound every day more like or closer to this idealized perfect four-hour show every day. You’ll never get there but you kind of go into it knowing that. I’m happy where I am but I the goal is to always get better and never stop enjoying it.”
Peter Schwartz writes weekly sports radio features for Barrett Media. He has been involved in New York sports media for over three decades, and has worked for notable brands such as WFAN, CBS Sports Radio, WCBS 880, ESPN New York, and FOX News Radio. Peter has also served as play by play announcer for the New Yok Riptide, New York Dragons, New York Hitmen, Varsity Media and the Long Island Sports Network. You can find him on Twitter @SchwartzSports or email him at DragonsRadio@aol.com.
