Tust enters a new chapter after nearly 14 years of award-winning storytelling, unending community commitment and sideline style at KTVB.

BOISE, Idaho — Longtime KTVB Sports Director Jay Tust on Thursday announced he is leaving Idaho’s NewsChannel 7 for an exciting opportunity with Boise State Athletics.

Jay joined KTVB in July 2011 following a three-year run at KLEW-TV in Lewiston after beginning his broadcasting career at Fox Sports Northwest in Bellevue, Washington.

The kid from Tacoma became a role model for kids across the Treasure Valley who awaited his on-air appearance and Friday Night Football highlights featuring their hometown team.

Jay has covered Boise State across the country – from stadiums and cities, to athletes, championships, and bowl games – in nearly 14 years at KTVB.

He has covered Olympic gold medalists and hopefuls, play-by-play and color commentary, and legends like Kristin Armstrong, Chris Petersen, Kellen Moore, and Ashton Jeanty, to name a few.

His storytelling of heart-wrenching and inspiring stories, including those of Eagle softball coach Doug Corta and Boise State football player Antoine Turner’s battle with homelessness, have defined excellence in sports journalism.

Jay won the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award in 2015 for his story on Turner and a Northwest Emmy Award for The Road to South Korea special in 2019. He has been honored with dozens of Idaho Press Club awards, including 10 Idaho Sports Broadcaster of the Year awards.

As the legend of The Blue grew, athletic departments expanded and southern Idaho boomed, Jay’s commitment to sports in every corner of the community stayed constant.

Tust’s signature style – business on top, party on the bottom – also kept its swagger. A late-May storm is no match for those flip flops and shorts, especially after an all-day session of state basketball highlights.

Jay embraced experiments with high-quality, documentary-style content like The Blueprint, which earned Northwest Emmy Award nominations in three consecutive years, Jay’s Sports Bar, and ROAD TO THE HEI2MAN this past season.

His unending commitment to gold-standard coverage, infectious energy, and elite storytelling on the Bronco Roundup Game Day Show and beyond will be greatly missed at KTVB.

As for the exciting opportunity – the plot of Jay’s next chapter stays in the City of Trees alongside die-hard members of Bronco Nation.

Jay is joining Boise State Athletics in a position perfectly suited to his talents. As the official station for Bronco Nation, KTVB looks forward to working with Jay in his new role.

Watch KTVB on Thursday as we celebrate and reflect on Jay’s time at Channel 7 on the News at 4 and The 208. Tune into the News at 6 to hear Jay discuss his new role with Boise State Athletics’ Cody Gougler and Chris Kutz live from The Blue at Albertsons Stadium.

A message from Jay:

It’s wild to think about, but 14 years ago this week, I accepted a job offer from KTVB and made the decision to move to Boise.

I can’t tell you how excited I was for the opportunity. I’ll never forget pulling into the parking lot on my first day of work and seeing all the matching white Ford Explorers backed into their stalls, seemingly eager to attack whatever the day had in store. That night, my first night on-air, I got to sit on the desk with “The Big Three,” KTVB legends Carolyn Holly, Dee Sarton and Mark Johnson. It all felt so big time.

I knew I was embarking on something special, but I had no idea my run would last 14 incredible years. I had no clue how deeply I would fall in love with this community and my family here at KTVB. It pulled me in long enough to fall in love with a beautiful girl form Boise, and that was it, I became a Boisean. We eventually got married, had wonderful two kids, and we’re expecting our third child later this summer. We are so proud to call Boise “Home.”

My journey here wasn’t always perfect, but if I’ve learned anything as a journalist, imperfection, unpredictability, and resilience are key ingredients to crafting the perfect story. I feel fulfilled, fortunate and lucky. My sole goal when I moved here was to work hard and be kind to people, and I’m so grateful I was placed in a city that embraces that mentality to its core.

I’ve loved my role as sports director at KTVB. I truly believe it’s one of the best jobs in television. But it’s time for someone else to experience the magic of that position, and I can only hope it gives them as much as it’s given me.

To our viewers, I can’t thank you enough. The most enjoyable part of my jobs was feeding off your energy on Bronco Roundup Game, and getting the chance to interact with you, where it be at a sporting event, the grocery store, or somewhere in between.