But these credentials didn't prevent Williams's exit from KOA this week. And while neither the station nor the man known to fans as Big Al has confirmed that he was cut from the roster, his departure coincides with huge layoffs at properties across the country associated with iHeartMedia, KOA's powerful corporate owner. Moreover, Williams isn't the only KOA regular to be kicked to the curb. Also out is Brandon Krisztal, a Broncos insider for the signal — and Michael Coover, an executive producer for the afternoon-drive show that Williams anchored, reportedly was given his walking papers, too.
Williams announced his divorce from KOA with the following post on his X account, time-stamped at 1:44 p.m. on November 4:
As I step away from iHeart, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to everyone I’ve had the privilege of working alongside over the years. To my colleagues at iHeart, thank you for your unwavering support, dedication, and camaraderie. Together, we’ve shared countless moments — moments that I will carry with me always. The spirit and energy of our team have been a source of inspiration, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it.Less than an hour later, at 2:28 p.m., Krisztal took to his X feed with remarks of his own. In addition to praising colleagues such as longtime voice of the Broncos Dave Logan, JoJo Turnbeaugh, regional senior vice president of programming for iHeartMedia and Williams's first co-host at KOA, and program director Dave Tepper, Krisztal casually implied that Williams was indeed a layoffs victim. He wrote:
To my loyal listeners, who tuned in on 94.1 and 850 AM, thank you for being there through every broadcast, for your passion, and for sharing in my love of the game. Your support has meant the world to me, and I am excited to share that this is not goodbye — I’ll be back soon, stronger and ready to bring you the sports insights and stories you’ve come to expect.
Thank you for being such an essential part of my journey. I look forward to the next chapter and to reconnecting with each of you soon.
Go CU & Go Broncos,
Alfred “Big Al” Williams
Like Big Al, I was part of today’s workforce reduction. I joined iHeart just two days before Christmas in 2015, right before the Broncos clinched Super Bowl 50!Tepper did not respond to detailed questions from Westword or even provide a statement about Williams's five years at KOA. As a result, there's no official explanation for Williams's likely targeting — but there's no doubt money was the largest factor. Williams was convinced to jump from The Fan to KOA in 2019 by what knowledgeable sources suggest was an offer too enormous to refuse. The annual sum has never been made public, and estimates from behind-the-scenes types aren't consistent enough to publish. Yet every expert contacted by Westword on the subject over a period of years has characterized it as the richest radio contract of its era by a very large amount.
My time at KOA Colorado has been filled with incredible experiences, and I’m especially grateful to @daveloganpod for recommending me and mentoring me along the way. Working for friends can be tricky, but @JoJoradio has been a fantastic boss, and @davejtepper is truly one of the best Program Directors in radio.
It’s been a privilege to contribute to the rich heritage of KOA and its significance in Denver and the Rocky Mountain Region. Being part of @BroncosRadio and serving as the flagship for the @broncos has been a remarkable experience.
I’ve built countless great relationships with colleagues, more than I can count or thank properly. Fortunately, I have the opportunity to embark on a new venture, and I’m looking forward to what’s next!
In the end, though, the Williams deal was a loser for KOA. At The Fan, Williams partnered with Darren "D-Mac" McKee, and from the time the pair debuted in 2010, their chemistry helped make them must-hear radio, not to mention a ratings winner. But Williams and Turnbeaugh never managed to replicate the formula in terms of either quality or popularity, and subsequent attempts to make magic by combining Williams with other pros such as Logan and 103.5 mainstay Rick Lewis missed the mark, too. So the giant pact that brought Williams to KOA never came close to paying off.
All of this sturm and drang leaves KOA in a tenuous position. The October numbers for listeners age six and over, as collected by Radio Online, show KOA in ninth place for the Denver market, with a 4.4 share — well below the 7.3 share generated by leader KYGO-FM, a country station that tops the charts, but fairly decent. (A share is defined by the Nielsen ratings service as "the percentage of those listening to radio in the...Metropolitan Statistical Area who are listening to a particular radio station.") However, these numbers are inflated by the popularity of KOA's airings of Broncos and Buffs games. Prior to the start of the current football season, KOA had a 2.3 share, which would translate to 18th place at present — a pathetic showing for an outlet nicknamed "The Blowtorch" because of its 50,000 watts of power.
For now, the weekday afternoon slot at KOA will be occupied by Logan and Ryan Edwards — a solid combo, but one that probably won't cause sports lovers in Denver to shout with glee at their smart speakers. Still, they're a lot less expensive than Big Al.
