NCSN Expands Live Programming With Tobacco Road Sports Radio Alliance - Addition of “THE DRIVE”
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 and 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 has already achieved the unprecedented combination of high honors and statewide 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 nearly 75,000 YouTube subscribers (ranking in the top 2% worldwide) 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 will also 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.
NCSN, Veteran Golf Writer Ward Clayton
Partner On “The Road to Augusta” Podcast
The North Carolina Sports Network (NCSN) announced today a partnership with veteran journalist Ward Clayton to launch “The Road to Augusta, With Ward Clayton,” a premium podcast and digital content series leading into the 2026 Masters Tournament.
Scheduled to debut in February, the weekly podcast will provide an insider’s look at the traditions, history, and people that bring the Augusta golf scene to life each spring. The series will culminate during Masters week (April 11-14), with daily coverage and special feature content.
Hosted by Clayton, a Durham native and University of North Carolina graduate, the series draws on his unmatched master's perspective. Clayton has attended and covered 41 consecutive Masters tournaments. He will welcome guests from across the golf world, including players, caddies, writers, long-time patrons, and individuals with deep ties to Augusta.
North Carolina’s connection to the Masters runs deep, both historically and in the current field.
The 2026 tournament will include competitors with various ties to the Bold North State, including Bryson DeChambeau (2024 U.S. Open champion at Pinehurst), Brian Harman (sponsored by Wilmington-based MegaCorp), Michael La Sasso (Raleigh native and NCAA champion), Cameron Young (Wake Forest University), Ben Griffin (UNC), Akshay Bhatia (grew up in Wake Forest, N.C.), Ryan Gerard (UNC, Raleigh) and Max Greyserman (Duke).
Historically, the Masters’ North Carolina roots extend to original broadcaster John Derr (Dallas, NC), 1950s amateur standout Billy Joe Patton (Morganton), four-time champion Arnold Palmer (Wake Forest University), 1959 winner Art Wall (Duke), and 1976 champion Raymond Floyd (Fayetteville).
Additional ties include Augusta National’s bunker sand originating from the North Carolina mountains and co-founder Clifford Roberts ' long-time summers at Grandfather Mountain.
“Road to Augusta, with Ward Clayton, was built as a premium, seasonal property with a clear beginning, a defined narrative arc, and a natural climax during Masters week,” said Mike Waddell, CEO of Brentwood Partners LLC and co-founder of the North Carolina Sports Network. “By partnering with Ward Clayton, NCSN delivers credible, high-quality storytelling that aligns brands with tradition, excellence, and one of the most respected events in sports. This is intentional content designed for partners who value association, not interruption.”
Clayton said the project represents his lifelong connection to the tournament.
“I first fell in love with the Masters through families in Durham who had attended since the 1950s, and later by attending my first Masters in 1985, while covering golf for the Durham Morning Herald,” Clayton said. “Augusta has always felt like a rite of spring — a pilgrimage. It’s not just a golf tournament, but a place, an atmosphere, and a tradition that people hold close to their hearts. I look forward to sharing the stories of the players, caddies, long-time patrons, and Augustans who make it so special.”
“The Road To Augusta, With Ward Clayton” is part of NCSN’s expanding original content lineup, which also includes the award-winning David Glenn Show, Bold North State Football Daily (featuring Glenn anlongtimeme college coaches Tim Brewster and Jim Collins), Time-Out: The Tobacco Road Basketball Show (featuring Glenn anlongtimeme college coach Kerry Keating), Court Vision (featuring Waddell and NC State basketball star Ven-Allen Lubin), Her Court (featuring women’s basketball, with host Chris Edwards), This Was Then (focused on sports history in North Carolina, with co-hosts Todd McGee and Tim Peeler) and The Old North State Tailgate. Together, these shows form the foundation of NCSN’s mission to deliver expert coverage to fans from those who have lived and led at the highest levels of sports.
Episodes of “The Road To Augusta, With Ward Clayton” will be featured on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, as well as on the NCSportsNetwork.com website. Fans can follow @TheNCSportsNet on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for exclusive clips, updates, and behind-the-scenes moments.
About the North Carolina Sports Network
The North Carolina Sports Network is a product of Brentwood Partners LLC. Since launching in July 2023, NCSN has produced more than 2,400 videos, generated 35 million-plus impressions, surpassed 3.2 million total views, attracted more than 64,000 YouTube subscribers (top two percent in the world),d) and delivered 90+ on-site events through its Old North State Tailgate platform, making it the fastest-growing sports and culture media network in the state. NCSN features on-air personalities who include coaches, journalists, athletes, and former sports executives, with coverage spanning college football, basketball, baseball, ACC Media Days, NASCAR, the PGA Tour, and major community events statewide.
About Ward Clayton
Ward Clayton is an author, editor, and communications professional with more than two decades of experience. He is the owner of Clayton Communications, a producer of the 2019 documentary “Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk” and the author of “The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National.” Clayton previously served as sports editor of The Augusta Chronicle, director of editorial services for the PGA Tour, and editorial director of Masters Digital. He currently resides in St. Johns, Fla.
Media Contacts
Michael Waddell
michael@brentwoodpartnersllc.com
(804) 467-2079
Ward Clayton
jaxclayton123@gmail.com
(904) 910-7728
MIAA Launches New Collaboration with Brentwood Partners
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has entered into a partnership with Brentwood Partners, LLC, becoming the first NCAA Division III conference to collaborate with the organization.
Founded in 1888, the MIAA is the nation’s oldest collegiate athletic conference and is home to a proud tradition of academic and athletic excellence. This new partnership reflects the league’s continued commitment to innovation and enhancing the student-athlete experience.
Brentwood Partners, LLC, a sports consulting firm established in 2013, collaborates with conferences and university athletic programs to help increase their revenue and support for their student-athletes.
"The MIAA has always been about more than just competition — it’s about community, tradition, and opportunity," MIAA Commissioner Jason Horn remarked. "Our partnership with Brentwood Partners creates new ways for corporate and community leaders to engage with our member institutions and student-athletes, while generating resources to grow and enhance the student-athlete experience."
Led by former collegiate athletic administrators Michael Waddell and Keith Tribble, Brentwood Partners offers strategies that go beyond sponsorships. The firm focuses on revenue innovation, fan engagement, NIL programs, brand building, content creation, and executive searches.
Tribble commented, “Our goal is simple—we want to help programs succeed on the field, in the classroom, and in the marketplace.”
"This collaboration highlights the MIAA’s rich history and bright future, while cultivating partnerships that benefit everyone involved," noted Horn.
Through this partnership, the MIAA will work alongside Brentwood Partners to identify opportunities for growth and to further enhance the student-athlete experience across "America's First Conference".
North Carolina Sports Network Announces
New NIL-Era Basketball Show, “Court Vision,”
With Wolfpack’s Lubin, Long-Time AD Waddell
The North Carolina Sports Network (NCSN) announced Wednesday the debut of Court Vision. This innovative weekly video-and-podcast series offers fans an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at college basketball in the modern Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era.
Hosted by Mike Waddell, co-founder of the North Carolina Sports Network and a former NCAA Division One athletic director, Court Vision features Ven-Allen Lubin, an NC State basketball standout with one of the most compelling stories in the Atlantic Coast Conference. A starter at forward for the Wolfpack during the 2025-26 season, Lubin previously played at Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and North Carolina, and for USA Basketball.
This partnership is among the first direct media-to-athlete NIL deals in North Carolina history.
Beginning with its November 30 launch, Court Vision will release 16 weekly episodes through the conclusion of the 2025-26 college basketball season. Episodes will explore life inside the locker room, the challenges of balancing academics and athletics, the realities of the transfer portal, and the unique pressures and opportunities of being a student-athlete in today’s fast-changing landscape, among other topics.
“Ven-Allen Lubin represents everything great about college basketball — talent, character, perseverance, and authenticity,” Waddell said. “This show gives fans access they’ve never had — directly from a player living it every day, paired with my perspective as someone who’s worked in the front office and on the sidelines for nearly three decades.”
“The NIL era has changed the game, and Court Vision captures that evolution in real time,” said David Glenn, NCSN’s director of content and an award-winning broadcaster and journalist with almost 40 years of experience covering sports in North Carolina. “Ven-Allen and Mike are breaking new ground here — a four-year college athlete and a long-time athletic director teaming up to have honest, informed conversations about what life in college basketball is really like.”
Court Vision is part of NCSN’s expanding original content lineup, which also includes the award-winning David Glenn Show, Bold North State Football Daily, Time-Out: The Tobacco Road Basketball Show, Her Court (featuring women’s basketball, with host Chris Edwards), This Was Then (focused on sports history in North Carolina), and The Old North State Tailgate. Together, these shows form the foundation ofNCSN'ss mission to bring fans expert coverage from those who have lived and led at the highest levels of sports.
Episodes of Court Vision will premiere weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, as well as on the NCSportsNetwork.com website. Fans can follow @TheNCSportsNet on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook,k and YouTube for exclusive clips, updates,s and behind-the-scenes moments.
About the North Carolina Sports Network
The North Carolina Sports Network (NCSN) is a multi-platform media company celebrating the teams, traditions, and personalities that define the” Bold North State.” Featuring veteran journalists, championship coaches, athletes, and executives with more than 200 years of combined experience, NCSN delivers authentic, insider-driven sports coverage across North Carolina.
Since its launch in 2023, NCSN’s YouTube channel has attracted approximately 55,000 subscribers, ranking in the top 2% worldwide.
