MOBILE, Alabama – Gerhard Mathangani has been named Sports Director for WKRG News 5. The announcement was made today by Jesse Grear, WKRG Vice President and General Manager.

“Gerhard knows the sports landscape inside and out,” said Grear. “He’s always asking the right questions and getting to the main point in every story. Whether it’s high school or college football, basketball, baseball, golf or whatever, he knows the right people to talk to and what our viewers want to hear. There’s no one better to step into that chair.”

“Gerhard is an Alabamian, an athlete, and a great teammate. He really knows the teams we care about here and across the Southeastern Conference,” said Gene Kirkconnell, WKRG’s News Director. “His enthusiasm brings dynamic energy to our sportscasts that makes them so engaging and fun to watch.”

Mathangani replaces previous WKRG Sports Director Simone Eli who has departed to take the Sports Anchor position at WPIX in New York, NY.

“Gerhard is going to be a tremendous Sports Director and he has more than earned this role at WKRG! I was beyond lucky to work alongside him for the last few years, as he could easily have been leading a sports department anywhere in the country already,” said Simone Eli. “Gerhard is truly my best friend. We’ve always been a team. Nobody will be a bigger fan of Gerhard’s than I will as he takes on this role and makes it his own.”

Mathangani joined WKRG in March 2023 and as Sports Reporter/Anchor, helping to lead the station’s award-winning coverage of local and regional sports. Since arriving on the Gulf Coast, he helped launched 5th Quarter, a revamped high school football highlight show, and Southeast Sports +, a nationally distributed sports talk show, a digital program spotlighting athletes, teams, and sports stories across the region.

Before joining WKRG, Gerhard spent more than a decade covering sports across Northeast Alabama. He began his career in 2008 as a sports anchor and reporter in the Oxford/Gadsden area before becoming Sports Director at WJXS-TV/WEAC-TV24 in Jacksonville, AL. Throughout his tenure, he anchored nightly sportscasts, hosted and produced the award-winning Pigskin Roundup, and served as an analyst for college football and basketball broadcasts on ESPN+. He also co-hosted High School Football Alabama’s “After the Game with Jon Holder.” He served as a co-host and contributor on Fox Sports Radion in Gadsden, AL covering high school, college athletics and the Atlanta Braves. His coverage spanned high school and college athletics across Calhoun, Talladega, Cleburne, Etowah, Cherokee, and St. Clair counties.

A native of Homewood, Alabama, Gerhard is a proud graduate of Jacksonville State University. His storytelling blends energy, insight, and a deep appreciation for the athletes and communities he covers. Away from the newsroom, he enjoys traveling and exploring new places.

“It’s an incredible honor to step into the role of Sports Director at WKRG. This team and station have such a proud legacy, and I’m excited to help carry that tradition forward,” said Mathangani. “Simone Eli has been an amazing teammate and even better friend! I’m so proud of what we accomplished together and our expansion to new heights. I look forward to continuing our commitment to showcasing the incredible athletes, coaches, and communities that make local sports special.”

Viewers can watch Mathangani weeknights on WKRG News 5 at 6pm, WKRG News 5 at 6:30pm, Gulf Coast CW News at 9pm, and WKRG News 5 at 10pm.

About WKRG News 5

WKRG News 5 is an award-winning local news station that reaches 665,000 television households in the Mobile-Pensacola-Fort Walton Beach television market. It is seen in 4 counties in Northwest Florida, 7 counties in Alabama, and 3 counties in Mississippi. WKRG News 5 can be followed over the air on channel 5.1, on the WKRG+ App, on WKRG.com and the WKRG Facebook page.

About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms, including more than 316,000 hours of programming produced annually by its business units.

Nexstar owns America’s largest local broadcasting group comprisedof top network affiliates, withmorethan 200owned or partner stations in116 U.S.markets reaching 220million people. For moreinformation, please visitNexstar.tv.

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