NYC Radio: ESPN Promotes Craig, Hurley, Winthrop

Justin Craig

ESPN Radio New York WEPN 98.7 FM program director Justin Craig has been named Senior Director, Programming and Operations for the national ESPN Radio network.

In this capacity, Craig will be responsible for all aspects of ESPN Radio programming and production, including oversight of Mike & Mike, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Russillo & Kanell, and nighttime and weekend programming. Craig transitioned out of his current role at 98.7 FM earlier this month and is now based at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn., reporting to David Roberts, vice president, ESPN Network Content.

Ryan Hurley, formerly the Assistant Program Director at 98.7FM, has been promoted to Program Director and will oversee all aspects of programming at the station.

Jonathan Winthrop, who has previously served as a producer at 98.7FM will take on a leadership role as the new Assistant Program Director and will continue to produce The Stephen A. Smith Show.

“Justin brings to this role a wide range of experience and winning results,” said Roberts. “He clearly understands the value of how the local and national networks can collectively create an even stronger culture of success. Bottom line, Justin Craig is uniquely prepared for this extremely important leadership role. He's a winner.”

Ryan Hurley

Craig joined ESPN New York in 2010, successfully leading the station to ratings growth in that period. Prior to his role at ESPN Radio New York, Craig served as the Program Director for ESPN Chicago 1000 for four years. In that time, the station became the number one sports talk station in the city. He also helped create the station’s flagship show Waddle & Silvy, now the top-rated afternoon drive show in Chicago.

Craig joined ESPN in January 1998 as a part-time overnight board operator, before becoming one of the original producers of Mike & Mike in 2000. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Hurley, a graduate of Hofstra University, has been with ESPN New York since 2004 and served as a producer for The Michael Kay Show for 11 years, first as a lead producer, then as the executive producer. In 2015, he was named the Assistant Program Director at 98.7FM and played a vital role in developing programming at the station. He has also produced Jets, Knicks and Rangers games for the station.

WEPN 98.7 FM (6 Kw)

Winthrop joined ESPN New York in 2004 as a board operator and has been a longtime producer of The Stephen A. Smith Show. Winthrop has worked on various 98.7FM shows, including The Michael Kay Show. He graduated from Hofstra University in 2004