Scott Unash
Sports and Program Director, 1600 ESPN, and Co-Host of "The Gym Class"
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He lives and breathes sports.
Scott was born and reared in Cedar Rapids. He attended the University of
Iowa, received his degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1988.
In 1989, he started work at KOUR Radio in Independence, Iowa, as a Disc
Jockey and a member of the sports staff.
After two years, he was recruited by KCRG Radio in Cedar Rapids and
worked there as the Sports Director through 2006 when the station was
purchased by KZIA, Inc., and became KGYM 1600 ESPN. Scott was named
the Sports and Program Director of the new station.
Scott has been the voice of high school athletics in the Cedar Rapids
metro area since 1991. In addition, he has called local college
contests, Hawkeye Downs racing and Cedar Rapids Kernels games over the
length of his career.
Scott was the actual play-by-play radio announcer
of the 1991 Norway High School baseball state finals featured in the movie "The
Final Season." (KZIA co-worker Ric Swann played him in the movie.)
He has been honored many times over the years for his play-by-play
abilities. The Iowa Associated Press named Scott the state's top
play-by-play announcer in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
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Mark Dukes
Co-Host of "The Gym Class"
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He brings tremendous sports experience and perspective.
Mark was born in Cedar Rapids. He received his diploma from Cedar Rapids
Jefferson High School in 1974 where he had participated in basketball,
baseball and golf, as well as being editor of the Statesman student
newspaper.
He was a four-year letterman on the golf team of Coe College in Cedar
Rapids, which won the 1976 Midwest Conference title and participated in
the NCAA Division III tournament in Springfield, Ohio.
Mark spent three months in 1976 as an intern at the Washington, D.C,
Bureau of the Des Moines Register.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe in 1978.
While still in high school, he worked at the Cedar Rapids Gazette as a
part-time employee on the sports desk. He was named to a full-time
sportswriter position in 1978, became assistant sports editor in 1983,
and served as sports editor from 1984-1998. During his Gazette career,
he covered a variety of high school events, University of Iowa and Iowa
State University Football and Basketball, NCAA Basketball and Wrestling
Tournaments, six bowl games, the 1983 All-Star Baseball Game and two
Baseball World Series.
Mark co-authored "Greatest Moments in Iowa Hawkeye Football History"
with former Gazette sports editor Gus Schrader.
He owned and operated Muddy Waters in downtown Cedar Rapids from 1998 to
2003. He is currently manager of the Chrome Horse Saloon in Cedar
Rapids.
Mark is the father of two grown children and grandfather of three.
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Brent Staab
Morning Host and Sports Producer
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When asked to provide his biography, this is what he wrote:
"I never know what to say...or how to describe myself. I'm a Pisces. I
like long romantic walks.... OK. Just kidding. I've lived in Cedar
Rapids all my life. I went to Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School and
received my diploma in 1996. I went to school at Kirkwood Community
College and Mount Mercy College after that.
"I'm not sure I have a favorite sport. I like all of them. I'm more of
an event sorta guy. I love March Madness and the conference tournaments
in basketball. Bowl games are always exciting. Who doesn't love two
teams beating each other up for a trophy? Speaking of beating each other
up, UFC ® [Ultimate Fighting Championship ® ] is becoming more and more
appealing to me lately. Sorry boxing.
"Baseball is a game within a game. How can one not enjoy that?
"I stumbled upon radio about five years ago. It has always sort of
appealed to me and people always said you have a great voice for radio.
What does that mean? At least they didn't say I have a face for radio.
I started working at KZIA Z102.9 part-time doing street team events and
DJ-ing overnights on the weekends.
"For those of you who think talking on the radio is easy, it is not. I
quickly realized this and, luckily for me, I have had some excellent
teachers and mentors here. One-sided interesting conversations by
yourself are not always easy to have.
"I love sports, always have. I am a long-time Cubs fan and love my
Hawkeyes, win or lose.
"I'm in charge of the morning drive on 1600 ESPN KGYM. I do the news,
weather and sports updates during the 'Mike and Mike' program. During
the afternoons I produce our afternoon show, 'The Gym Class,' with Scott
Unash and Mark Dukes. Talking sports with these two is probably the
highlight of my day. I love to play Devil's Advocate and try to get
those two riled up on topics."
He usually succeeds.
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