SEC Network lead anchor Dari Nowkhah is headed back to the home of his alma mater, as The REF 99.3FM and 1400AM has announced that the ESPN personality is joining the radio station’s lineup for a new weekday program. In an announcement earlier today on T-Row in the Morning Show, host Toby Rowland revealed that Nowkhah will begin hosting a weekday radio show from 9 a.m. to noon Central Time beginning in July.
Currently, Dari Nowkhah is a host and anchor on SEC Network, regularly appearing on SEC Now throughout the week, including Saturday evenings during the college football season. Additionally, he serves as the host for Saturday Football Final on the SEC Network and calls play-by-play for men’s basketball and baseball.
“Dari Nowkhah will be an incredible addition to our daily lineup,” said Casey Vinyard, KREF owner. “We are thrilled to have Dari join our team and bring his vast radio experience and deep knowledge of the SEC.”
Moreover, Nowkhah will be co-hosting the new program alongside Josh Helmer, who currently hosts The Plank Show alongside Oklahoma sideline reporter and softball play-by-play voice Chris Plank. Notably, Plank will be replacing Rowland, who announced in February that he will be leaving the morning show to take a new role as sports director at News 9, the local CBS television affiliate. Meanwhile, Blake Gamble will serve as Plank’s co-host beginning in July.
For the past 14 years, Nowkhah has co-hosted the popular weekend program The Dari and Mel Show on ESPN Radio alongside ESPN NFL draft insider Mel Kiper Jr.
Originally from Tulsa, Okla., Nowkhah graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1998 with a degree in broadcast journalism. In 2013, he was recognized by his alma mater and named Young Professional of the Year by the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Prior to joining ESPN, Nowkhah worked as a sports anchor and reporter at KOTV, a CBS affiliate in Tulsa, Okla. Earlier in his career, he also had stops in Lincoln, Nebraska, with previous experience in Kalispell, Montana.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
