Introduction to Chad Smith

Chad Smith

My love for Minnesota sports first began on a summer’s day back in 1986. I was 15 years old and attending my first Minnesota Twins game during a summer American Legion baseball team trip (my first ever venture into professional sports) to the old Metrodome. That was the year before Kirby, Herbie, G-Man, Gags, Sweet Music, and company would go from worst-to-first and capture the World Series.

The thing that stands out about the baseball game that day was the fact that even though they got their butts kicked, you could see there was a lot of potential there. I told our legion coach, Jeff Sikkink, that the team had a good chance to be special. Did I know they’d win a title the next year? No. But that’s when I began to realize I wanted to do something in sports.

Went to Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall to learn to be a sports broadcaster. I succeeded. I spent 22 years in professional radio, calling a grand total of 1,005 games, including a few last season for KFIL radio in Preston.

I walked away from the mic in 2012 because of some family health issues that needed to be dealt with, which is how I ended up in Rochester. I’ve spent the last five years doing all the news writing I can handle, including high school and college sports. I’ve learned a lot about the writing aspect of the media and really enjoyed a chance to broaden my horizons.

However, that broadcasting itch never really goes away, which is why I’m stoked at the opportunity to join Minnesota Sports Weekly. Can’t wait to dive feet-first into the online world of broadcasting and talk all things Minnesota sports!