Dean Blevins announces retirement as sports director from Oklahoma City KWTV-News 9

Posted by author February 25, 2025 Sports

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Dean Blevins, a fixture in the Oklahoma sports scene for more than five decades, announced Monday that he’s retiring from KWTV-News 9 in Oklahoma City.

“It’s been a great run,” said Blevins, sharing the news live on air. “Better and longer than deserved.”

Of Blevins’ 41 years as a broadcaster, he spent 28 of them at News 9. He was hired by the station in 1997 and has served as News 9’s sports director since 2001.

Blevins will remain on the air through July 1, when his retirement takes effect. Blevins said he’ll maintain his weekday radio spot on WWLS-The Sports Animal’s “Total Dominance Hour.”

Toby Rowland, the radio voice of the OU Sooners, will step in as News 9’s sports director, the station announced. Rowland has been a fixture on News 9’s “Oklahoma Sports Blitz.”

Blevins was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and track at Norman High School, where he graduated from in 1974.

He was a dual-sport athlete for one season at OU. Blevins is the last Sooner to have lettered in football and basketball in the same season.

Blevins played quarterback for Barry Switzer’s Sooners from 1974-77. He made six starts — four in 1976 and two in 1977. The Sooners went 6-0 in those games.

Blevins began his broadcasting career in Tulsa in 1985. From 1989-2001, Blevins worked as an analyst and sideline reporter for CBS, ABC and ESPN.

“In this crazy business, I know three things,” Blevins said Monday. “One, it’s all by the grace of God. Two, I’ve given every ounce of energy I could summon. “Three, I’ve sought to be accurate and fair, and to cement opinion with a heavy dose of objectivity.

“Can’t fake 41 years.”

Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.