KHON announced today that Rob DeMello has been promoted to sports director effective today. 

Kanoa Leahey, the station’s sports anchor since 2004, will remain on the staff as a part-time sports anchor. The station is adding former University of Hawaii pitcher Sam Spangler as a sports reporter/producer.

DeMello has been with KHON for nearly three years, and his stepping up allows Leahey to continue his outside work as a game announcer on OC 16’s high school sports broadcasts, as well as on the Diamond Head Classic college basketball tournament, which is shown on the ESPN networks.

“I am both extremely excited for Kanoa, and incredibly honored to be given this opportunity. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the position and for those who have held it before me. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with than Kanoa and Sam,” DeMello said in a KHON release.