NCSN staff report
North Carolina Sports Network
(last updated Aug. 24, 2026)

Old school and new school are joining forces to help build the future of North Carolina sports media.

The North Carolina Sports Network and Tobacco Road Sports Radio announced Monday a major statewide alliance for content, production and distribution that will combine established, award-winning North Carolina sports voices with a digital-first live programming operation.

The partnership will bring “The Drive With WD & Dez,” hosted by Will Dalton and Desmond “Dez” Johnson, to the quickly growing NCSN platform. It also creates a foundation for the two organizations to produce additional live shows, original series, special events and programming centered on the people, places, sports and culture of the Bold North State.

“This is bigger than adding another show to the network,” said Mike Waddell of Brentwood Partners LLC and the North Carolina Sports Network. “It brings together respected voices, emerging talent, statewide relationships and a modern production platform. Old school and new school are joining forces to build something that belongs to North Carolina.”

Under the alliance, Tobacco Road Sports Radio will lead audio and video production, as well as social media execution. The North Carolina Sports Network will lead statewide partnership sales, brand development, distribution and cross-promotion.

NCSN’s fast-growing YouTube channel will serve as the primary destination for full-length video programming produced through the alliance. Audio programming will continue to be distributed through Tobacco Road Sports Radio’s podcast network, while clips, interviews and promotional content will be shared across the organization’s digital and social platforms.

“I’ve worked with David Glenn in various capacities over the past decade, so we didn’t think twice when this partnership opportunity was presented,” Johnson said. “This partnership will change how fans consume North Carolina sports, and I’m excited to bring Tobacco Road Sports Radio content to the North Carolina Sports Network.”

The alliance brings together complementary strengths. NCSN contributes statewide relationships, established content brands, experienced sports voices and partnership-development infrastructure. Tobacco Road Sports Radio adds live audio and video production, an established Triad audience, and a digital operation built for the way fans consume sports content today.

“I couldn’t be more pumped to bring ‘The Drive’ to the fast-growing North Carolina Sports Network,” Dalton said. “I’ve known David Glenn since I interned for him coming out of college, and he has remained one of my most valued mentors and friends in the business. The opportunity to team up with David and Mike Waddell is going to be a real treat.”

The collaboration also reunites Dalton and Johnson with Glenn, one of North Carolina’s most recognized and respected sports media members. Glenn already has achieved the unprecedented combination of high honors and state-wide awards as a writer, broadcaster, entrepreneur and university professor in the Bold North State.

“Will and Dez understand North Carolina sports, and they understand how to connect with the people who care about them,” Glenn said. “This alliance combines trusted relationships and decades of experience with the energy, technology and creativity needed to reach the next generation of fans. Most importantly, it gives us another powerful way to tell North Carolina’s stories.”

Founded in 2023, the North Carolina Sports Network has grown to almost 75,000 YouTube subscribers (a number that ranks in the top two percent in the world) and more than 100,000 social media followers overall. Such progress in such a short period has positioned NCSN as North Carolina’s fastest-growing sports media platform.

Collectively, members of the NCSN team have won seven national championships and include two Hall of Famers, a long-time attorney, accomplished entrepreneurs, an executive with experience across five professional sports teams, a former NCAA Division I director of athletics, and an award-winning marketing executive.

Seven members of the team are native sons of North Carolina. Together, NCSN’s experienced coaches, executives, writers and broadcasters shape content for sports fans seeking an elevated level of insider opinion, analysis and commentary.

“The Drive” will become part of a growing NCSN programming lineup that also includes The David Glenn Show, Bold North State, Big Four Sports, TCR: The Coaches Room, The Pineys: The North Carolina Sports Awards, Road to Augusta, and other original programming and events.

The alliance also will create opportunities for Dalton, Johnson, Glenn and other NCSN personalities to collaborate across live shows, interviews, events and new programming, including the Bold North State Tailgate Tour and TRL: The Ride Live.

“This is a long-term alliance among people who believe North Carolina deserves its own sports media platform,” Waddell said. “We want to cover more than scores and headlines. We want to tell the stories of the people, places, traditions, communities and culture that make this the Bold North State.”

THE DRIVE is scheduled to appear on NCSN on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays beginning Sept. 1. Additional programming, distribution and guest announcements will be released through the North Carolina Sports Network and Tobacco Road Sports Radio.

ABOUT THE NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS NETWORK

https://linktr.ee/northcarolinasportsnetwork

Founded in 2023, the North Carolina Sports Network is a statewide sports media and content platform focused on the people, programs, businesses and communities that define sports across North Carolina.

With nearly 75,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 100,000 social media followers (including @theNCSportsNet and @DavidGlennShow) overall, NCSN is North Carolina’s fastest-growing sports media platform. Its team combines more than 100 years of first-hand experience across coaching, athletics administration, professional sports, broadcasting, law, marketing, business, university-level teaching and entrepreneurship.

NCSN creates live programming, original storytelling, interviews, events and partnership-driven content for sports fans seeking an elevated level of insider opinion and commentary grounded in direct experience and demonstrated expertise.

NCSN properties include The David Glenn Show, Bold North State, Big Four Sports, TCR: The Coaches Room, The Pineys: The North Carolina Sports Awards, Road to Augusta, and additional original programming.

ABOUT TOBACCO ROAD SPORTS RADIO

Tobacco Road Sports Radio is a North Carolina-based digital sports media and production company delivering live programming, podcasts, interviews and event coverage across audio, video and social media platforms.

Its programming connects fans with the teams, personalities and stories shaping sports throughout the Triad and across North Carolina.