Missouri School of Journalism alum Aaron Ladd joins KOMU as new sports director
COLUMBIA, Mo. (Jan. 13, 2026) — Aaron Ladd, BJ ’18, has a talent for language, even if that talent earned him reproaches in grade school for “talking too much.” Take, for example, the way he describes his less-than-prodigious talents in sports as a youngster:
“I always had the cleanest jersey after every game.”
It’s in the way he describes the sum of his experiences as a sports reporter and anchor in Atlanta, South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach and Kansas City as “a cocktail and a gumbo” that flavors his on-air personality.
As the new sports director at KOMU-TV, the Missouri School of Journalism’s NBC-affiliate TV station, Ladd’s gumbo arrives in Columbia at a time when new recipes for success in Mizzou’s athletic programs have fueled a level of fan excitement not seen in mid-Missouri for some time. And Ladd, who covered three super bowls before the age of 30 during his time at KSHB in Kansas City, knows a little something about connecting with the community during times of fever-pitch excitement — and about forging connections that go beyond sports.
“I’m a people-first reporter, a relationship builder,” Ladd said. “When I check in with sources and they’re like, ‘Happy birthday’ or ‘How’s that vinyl records collection?’, I know I’m making an impact and people care about more than just the bylines.”
By the same token, he wants to help students at KOMU find authentic voices that are built through on-the ground interactions with community members rather than simply relaying box scores. And that mission has a personal element: his time at KOMU as a student was defined not by sports journalism, but by mastering the elements of multimedia news reporting with the help of mentors who helped him zero in on the writing and production skills that would prepare him for a winding path into sports reporting.
“The J-School always gave me every opportunity to succeed, and I didn’t have a traditional path, either,” Ladd said. “I was not a ‘sporto;’ I didn’t do Friday Night Fever, I didn’t take the sports class. I just needed to graduate in four years, and everybody helped me to be able to do that.”
When those mentors speak about him, they tend to emphasize the magnetism and vitality he brings to newscasts — the atmosphere of exuberance that invites audiences and colleagues alike to lean in and listen.
One such mentor was Kellie Stanfield, an associate professor and executive producer at KOMU, who was one of the first to congratulate him when he landed the sports director position.
“What comes across on camera in his work is exactly what stood out to me about him when he was a student,” Stanfield said. “He is warm and personable, and his work shows his integrity and curiosity. I know he will connect with the students and the KOMU audience immediately.”
Another was Jeimmie Nevalga, then an executive producer and now the station’s news director.
“Aaron brings fresh energy to the newsroom,” Nevalga said. “His experience as a storyteller in major markets will be a huge asset for our audience and for the teams and athletes who are important to our community. I’m also excited for the students who will work and learn alongside him. It’s truly an exciting time for KOMU 8.”
His energy comes as a welcome infusion in the wake of the tragic death of KOMU Sports Director Ben Arnet last August. Arnet’s influence remains very much alive in the newsroom, and Ladd said he intends to honor the former director’s legacy by continuing to “put students first.”
After nearly a decade of building his own resume — leaving his mark on ever-bigger markets as he ascended the traditional TV career ladder — he welcomes the opportunity to put students in the best possible positions to succeed, a focus that he said continues to pop up when he speaks with staff members about Arnet.
But it’s what he brings to the table in his own right as an experienced community journalist and sports voice that makes him an ideal fit for the station.
“Aaron has worked in several different communities of varying sizes and cultures, and in each one, he has found a way to make a genuine impact,” said David Kurpius, dean of the School of Journalism. “I look forward to seeing that happen again as mid-Missouri embraces the new, passionate voice leading KOMU’s sports coverage.”
A few days before his KOMU debut last week, Ladd drove past the in-progress construction at Mizzou’s Memorial Stadium — part of a $250 million effort to upgrade the home of Mizzou Football — which spurred him to reflect on what had changed on campus since he graduated in 2018.
Ladd has gone through his own changes in that time. Upon graduating, he left Columbia to accept a job closer to home. Now, returning to Mizzou feels like a homecoming unto itself.
“Mizzou was the only school I ever applied to, and it’s definitely a place I consider home,” he said. “And now, to give back to the next generation of people who have the same interests — I can’t believe I get to play that role.”
Updated: January 13, 2026