By Brenna Eller
Ad Astra Radio has recently welcomed a new member to the crew. Production and Sports Manager Dusty Deines. He will not only be helping behind the scenes in the production studios, but you will also get to hear Deines call games for high schools and college teams year-round.
“Dusty is a tremendous asset to our team,” Chief Programming Officer Aaron Napier said. “He’s a Kansas guy and fits well with Ad Astra Radio’s hometown mission. Our listeners will really enjoy getting to know him.”
Napier added that in addition to commercials and local sports, Deines can also be heard in the afternoon on Ad Astra Radio’s 100,000-watt Country station Kicks 106.1.
Deines grew up on a farm south of WaKeeney, Kan. After graduating from Trego Community High School in 2001, he continued his education at Colby Community College and graduated in 2003 earning an associate’s degree in Radio Broadcasting.
Right out of college, Deines got a job at KD Country 94 & Z 96.3 “The Lake” in Glen Elder, Kan., and worked there as Sports Director for 21 years, up until transitioning to his position with Ad Astra.
Deines has called over 1,700 high school sporting events and is now in his 22nd year broadcasting sports in Kansas. He has achieved many awards over the years.
Deines was named the Oscar Stauffer Kansas Sportscaster of the Year for the 2016-17 school year, he won the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association Media of the Year Award (2017-18) and the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Media of the Year (2023-24). He has also been a part of (20) 1st Place awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.
“I have also called 32 KSHSAA State Championship games or matches on various stations,” Deines added.
Sports have a way of teaching life lessons beyond the court or field, and although he started out as a kid with an interest in sports because of the entertainment and competition aspect, Deines found more appreciation in his 21 years as a broadcaster.
“I have gained a great appreciation for the way coaches work to prepare their athletes for life moving forward,” he said. “The hard work put into the sports stage can carry over in so many different ways. Telling the stories of high school athletes has really become my biggest passion professionally.”
Deines is a fan of the K-State Wildcats (college), the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), the Kansas City Royals (MLB) and the San Antonio Spurs (NBA). He enjoys calling all sports but because of the fast-paced action on the court, his favorite sport to call play-by-play for is actually volleyball.
“As far as the sport I know best, it would be basketball,” Deines said.
Coming from a small radio market, Deines has been involved in nearly everything the industry has to offer.
“I feel like the experience I bring to the table can help the company in many different ways,” Deines said. “I’ve worked in sports, news, production, sales, weather and so much more. There aren’t many things I can say I haven’t done in the business. As far as my role at Ad Astra, I feel my experience with Production and Sports dating back all the way to college 24 years ago can help provide quality content for all of the Ad Astra Radio listeners and fans.”
Deines expressed that he is happy to be joining the Ad Astra Radio team and shared that he’s closer to family now, which is another perk to the job.
“It’s a place that feels like I’ll fit in great,” Deines said. “Along with joining a great group of people in the professional world, it has also given me the chance to move within a half hour of the majority of my family, including two sisters and brothers-in-law and seven nephews. Being able to be present to watch them grow up is irreplaceable. Also, possibly having the opportunity to call my nephews sporting events on the radio would be icing on the cake. I’m excited to see where the road will take me.”
