Studer Community Institute

Former coach Willie Spears to join BlabTV as morning show host

December 17, 2014
/ Staff Reports
/ community-dashboard

Former Escambia High Football Coach Willie Spears is trading in his coaching whistle for a microphone and stepping from the sidelines to the television screen. Spears will be hosting a new BlabTV morning show with Carly Borden, a Pensacola native and recent University of Florida graduate. The new morning show is part of BlabTV’s new programming initiative, announced in October. Part of this initiative included a Talent Search, where the BlabTV judges and producers discovered Spears, who was one of the participants who auditioned at the event. Beginning Sunday, December 21, viewers can watch the first episode of a six-part series on BlabTV that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the three-day Talent Search event. Sunday’s episode includes footage of Spears and other participants auditioning and performing. Spears, a native of Panama City, was a starting receiver for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and was on that school’s NAIA Championship team in 1999. Spears holds a degree in Communications from NWOSU and a Masters in Education from Troy University. In addition to coaching at Escambia High, Spears is also an accomplished speaker and author. As coach-turned-host, Spears said he is looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of bringing topical, relevant issues to the community on the talk show. “I’ve always believed in the saying that ‘when one door closes, God opens another one.' Working with the team at BlabTV and the Studers is an incredible opportunity to continue doing meaningful work in this community,” said Spears. “As a coach, speaker, and author, I’ve always tried to encourage people - especially young people - to make good decisions and to work hard toward their goals. This is a new platform for me, but I’m looking forward to it and to making a difference in the lives of others.” Co-hosting with Spears is Borden, a UF grad who is a contributor to PensacolaToday.com. Borden said she was hoping to bring to the new morning show an upbeat and thoughtful approach to community events and news. “The Pensacola area always has so many unique things going on, from festivals to the arts, to local political and economic issues, that we won’t have any problem finding things to talk about,” said Borden. “Willie and I both share the same passion to help improve the quality of life in this community, and I’m excited to be hosting this new show with him.” The new morning show will begin airing in February. Follow BlabTV’s Facebook page for more information on this and other new programming coming to the Gulf Coast on Pensacola’s only all-local television station, BlabTV.

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Former coach Willie Spears to join BlabTV as morning show host

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