HARRISONBURG, Va. – Following a nationwide search, Dave Riggert has been named as the new radio play-by-play voice of James Madison Athletics, as appointed by Harrisonburg Radio Group and LEARFIELD’s JMU Sports Properties.
Riggert arrives at JMU following a 20-year broadcasting career in Missouri and Kansas. He will begin his play-by-play duties with JMU football’s Sept. 18 trip to Weber State in a nationally-ranked showdown. Dave Thomas, who recently accepted a new career opportunity in North Carolina, concludes his radio run with JMU football by calling the first two home games on Sept. 4 against Morehead St. and Sept. 11 against Maine.
“I am excited about this amazing opportunity at Harrisonburg Radio Group and James Madison,” Riggert said. “JMU is a special place and this is one of the premier jobs in America. I don’t take that lightly and I will bring passion and excitement to each broadcast to continue the tradition of excellence that has been behind the mic at JMU. I’m humbled and honored to be able to paint the picture for such a passionate and loyal fan base. Go Dukes!”
“Harrisonburg Radio Group is excited to announce that Dave Riggert will officially join our radio family on September 13,” General Manager Kim Mitchell said. “In addition to JMU coverage, he will also be filling various roles within our group of eight local radio stations (WSVA/Q101/WSIG/Rewind/More/ESPN/Oldies/EZ), including the local one-hour sports show from 12-1 p.m. on ESPN 106.9FM/1360AM.”
The play-by-play voice of Missouri Western State University (NCAA Division II) since 2009, Riggert most recently served as Director of Athletic Marketing and Communications for the university since January. Prior to that, he served as sports director at Eagle Radio, combining his MWSU play calling duties with other assignments, such as Kansas State men’s and women’s basketball (K-State Sports Network), National Pro Fastpitch (ESPN+/Eleven Sports), summer collegiate baseball and hosting a daily sports talk show.
“We are excited to have Dave join our broadcast team,” said Mike Chatburn, general manager of JMU Sports Properties. “He comes highly recommended with a 20-year career that spans over a variety of sports at various level. We know Dave will add tremendous value to JMU Athletics while strengthening our partnership with Harrisonburg Radio Group.”
From 2000 to 2009, Riggert worked at Salina Media Group in Salina, Kansas. That started his tenure calling games on the K-State Sports Network along with football and men’s basketball at Kansas Wesleyan University and pro basketball action in the United States Basketball League, to go along with high school sports coverage.
Riggert’s half dozen sports broadcasting awards include four honors from the Missouri Broadcasters Association (2010, 2013, 2016, 2018) and the Oscar Stauffer Kansas Sportscaster of the Year award in 2006.
Mitchell added, “HRG is heavily involved in the community, so live local talent like Dave plays a big part in what we do to maintain that community connection. Our mission statement is we live here, we give here. We have more than a dozen on-air personalities, including the voice of the Dukes, in our building allowing us to be live and local every day and super serve our community. We are elated about continuing the tradition of HRG and WSVA supplying the Voice of the Dukes, which has been an important part of our long-standing partnership with JMU as their flagship station.”
Riggert is a 2000 graduate of the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications. He was a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain in track & field at Nebraska. He moves to the Harrisonburg area with his wife, Breann, and three sons, Maxx, Quinn and Kree.