The Coast People

The founders of The Coast FM are major market professionals who came to Mendocino County to do Real Radio. The call letters left behind by some of the Coast Crew include legends of West Coast Rock; stations like KMPX, KSAN, KLOS, KMEL, KFOG and KLSX.

Our morning show on The Coast FM features the “Dean of Mendocino County News Directors.” Joe Regelski is a veteran of San Francisco radio, including KMEL, KNBR, THE QUAKE and THE CITY. Joe is the only local newsperson to cover all the important governmental and civic meetings, presenting factual, timely accounts of all the events of importance to our audience.

Mendocino County native Dred Scott started his career in Marin and Sonoma counties at KTIM and KVRE, respectively. He’s done two multi-year stints at KFOG/San Francisco, and worked at the former Live-105 in SF, 91X in San Diego and 100.3 The Sound and KLSX in Los Angeles. He loves hiking the Coastal Trail, discovering new music, practicing yoga and bonding with Endo the Cat. And he’s happy to be hanging out at The Coast FM.

Kate Hayes, middays on The Coast FM , is a nationally known voice and a veteran programmer and air personality at stations in San Francisco, Los Angeles and more: KSAN, KKCY-THE CITY, KQPT-THE POINT, KTIM, KLSX and others. Kate is also a two-time Marconi Award finalists for Small Market Personality of the year. In 2008, Kate was nominated as FMQB Triple A Music Director of The Year for Markets 51+ for helping to pick the newer music you’re learning to love.

Nights on The Coast FM belong to co-owner, Tom Yates. His dry wit and musical knowledge come from his long history in radio and major market successes, including as first Program Director of KLOS, plus programming KMPX,KSAN, KKCY-THE CITY  and KLSX, and working as a national consultant. The nightly specials and Tom’s own “LOCAL LICKS” program keep listeners to the wee hours. Tom also hosts “Breakfast with the Beatles”, the longest running Beatles show in Northern California, Sunday Mornings at 8am.

Hugh Connolly now covers afternoons on   The Coast FM.   Hugh has previous media experience at KCCN in Monterey; AFN – Armed Forces Network in Frankfurt, Germany in the early 90s; college radio and DJ’g. We feel he’s going to be great listening on your ride home. You may also see Hugh out and about playing music and DJ’g local events with his wife, Jamie.

Hosting Sunday evenings on The Coast FM plus occasional fill-ins is station co-owner Vicky Watts.  Vicky also handles the day to day business side of things for the station and, as manager of kozt.com front page and a member of many service organizations and community groups, brings information and a special awareness of events and happenings to the rest of the Coast Crew and her listeners. 

Sarah Haye  is on Sunday afternoon and Monday night, plus being the vacation stand in for the rest of The Coast Crew. Sarah has been part of The Coast Crew since before she was 21 years old.

Joe Seta Having spent years with The Coast FM and returned in 2022 to do Sunday afternoons and fill in. A very up person who will lift your spirits.

Allison Crawford is on Sunday afternoon and Monday night, plus being the vacation stand in for the rest of TheCoast Crew.  Allison came to us from years of radio in Tri-Cities Washington and also enjoys performing as a voice over professional.

Off Air

Sam Russell who runs us all and the office at The Coast FM has been at many of the same Los Angeles (KPPC, KPFK, KMET, KLOS, KLSX) and San Francisco (KSFX, KKCY) stations as Tom, Kate and Joe Regelski.  Sam brought her major market Public Service experience to the Coast Crew and to kozt.com, as well as her skills as a live event producer.  She is vital for our remote broadcasts from parades and other community happenings.

Rick Bondor made the Mendocino Coast his home in 1979.  He moved here to work in radio and has expanded his media skills. He has developed expertise working in sales in Radio, Newspaper, and Direct Delivery.  Rick is a great asset to  The Coast FM and can be for one for your business, too.

Nile Sprague – Not only is he an amazing photographer he’s our fantastic Webmaster learn more at Nilestyle.com

Our Engineer Max Dunn came to us in 2023 and is learning everyday what FM is like in a rural area. An IT professional and also instrumental in getting our donated Covelo station up and running.

We still have to mention our original Engineer, Bill Rett…. if it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be here. He says that The Coast FM is the last of the Real Radio Stations.

The Coast FM is Real Radio …. programmed by long time professionals and hosted by people who just love music.