Chicago-based sideline reporter and sports broadcaster Kacy Standohar brings her infectious passion to FS1, ESPN+, Marquee Sports Network and WCIU—covering BIG EAST college sports, Northwestern and UIC athletics, IHSA football and basketball, and even the PGA of America. Kacy is currently a sports reporter and anchor at NBC Chicago (WMAQ).

Brent Lesniak is a Dowagiac HS legend (1996–97) who rushed for 4,539 yards and 70 TDs, earned MaxPreps Top 50 honors, was an 11× All-State track star & 6× state champ, won a national title at GVSU, became an Arena League All-Pro, and now serves as Program Director for Rite of Passage.

High school sports veteran Ken Dietz brings 38 years as an AD, teacher, and coach in Dowagiac, South Haven, Hartford, and 18 years at Watervliet—plus a Stephenson High and Olivet College basketball pedigree, a Western Michigan M.A., and founder of a 30-year basketball camp—to the High School Football Pre-Game Show this fall.

Kate Gassman, owner of Gravity Productions and lifelong football fanatic who’s worked with everyone from national networks to astronauts, now directs Friday Football Tailgate—bringing her production expertise to electrify this fall’s broadcasts.

Ryan Cheevers, a former college athlete turned film producer and owner of Little Red Fern in Southwest Michigan with credits on Milk, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Dumb and Dumber To, brings storytelling prowess and sports passion to every project.

Randy Hendrixson, Technical Director for Friday Football Tailgate, is a live events producer whose expertise—honed on Notre Dame football games—delivers seamless, high-energy pregame broadcasts.

Tony DeFrancesco, ex–Springfield College wide receiver and co-owner of Paper Crane Productions, is a film & TV producer and “So, How’d You Get Here?” podcast co-host who draws on twenty years in LA to tell stories on- and off-screen.

Joel Smiedendorf is a long-time camera operator at Little Red Fern Productions, a University of Michigan film graduate, and has a background in improvisational comedy.

Kari Cheevers is the Fan Experience Coordinator for Friday Football Tailgate, holds an MBA from California Lutheran University, and serves as Director of Early College at Lake Michigan College, where she channels her passion for sports into engaging high school students.