Upon graduating from the University of Illinois in 2001, followed by a master’s degree from Mississippi State University in 2006, Brad Evans embarked on a career as an educator spending six years teaching at an alternative to high school in Champagne, Illinois.
It’s funny how things work out in life because Evans then stumbled upon a fantasy sports gig at Yahoo which eventually became a full-time opportunity.
“The rest is history,” said Evans who has spent more than two decades in the fantasy sports/gambling space in broadcasting. And now he is joining forces with Ryan Horvat to host BetMGM Tonight on the Audacy-owned BetQL Network weekday evenings from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.
“I’m over the moon about it,” said Evans. “The arsenal that (BetQL Vice President) Mitch Rosen has put together I think is unrivaled in the industry. It’s a very competitive market and he has put together a differentiation in talent unlike we’ve ever seen. I’m just ecstatic to be part of the group and have an opportunity to bring the noise.”
Not bad for someone who started out as a teacher and is now recognized in the industry as a hall of famer.
Evans was inducted into the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Fame in 2018.
“There’s no bust of me anywhere,” said Evans with a chuckle. “I’m extremely lucky to be where I am and I’m somebody that never takes that for granted. The fact that I was recognized as a hall of famer is just bat bleeping crazy.”
While Evans and Horvat will be working together for the first time, they already share some commonality. They are both from Illinois with Horvat originally from Joliet and Evans from downstate. They have also crossed paths in person before so it shouldn’t take long for them to create a bond on the air.
“There will be some building of chemistry,” said Evans. “We both have a Chicago lean about us in terms of the teams that we know and love and the perspectives we have in the industry about our favorite franchises, so we have that commonality already. I think the show structure and vibe is going to fit us perfectly.”
That structure and vibe will certainly include a heavy dose of “wagertainment”, a moniker coined by BetQL host Nick Kostos and now a phrase that is commonly used throughout the sports betting industry when it comes to broadcast content. It’s something that Evans fully subscribes to and he’s ready to bring to the table each night with Horvat.
“We’re going to bring parallelled energy,” said Evans. “There’s going to be humor that’s tossed in there. We’re going to present information but we’re also going to do it with some flare and some pizazz.”
Evans and Horvat begin their new journey together at what is arguably the best time on the sports calendar. Baseball is deep into its pennant races as the regular season winds down and the NFL and college football seasons are kicking off.
Talk about great timing!
“Football is king, and that portrayal is something that we’re really going to tap into,” said Evans. “We’re really excited to speak to those pigskin-centered audience. It’s the greatest time of the year.”
Brad Evans has certainly made a name for himself in the fantasy/sports gambling industry over the last 20 years and is now taking those talents to the BetQL Network. From being an educator in the classroom to being a “wagertainer” on the air, Evans is ready to take his career to the next level.
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.
