Sandy McIlree has been a cornerstone of Austin morning radio since the mid-1990s, best known as one half of the long-running *JB and Sandy Morning Show*.

He and JB Hager launched the show Jan 16, 1996 on Mix 94.7 KAMX, where they quickly built a dominant presence in Central Texas through their authentic chemistry, humor, and community focus. For 18 years, the program was a staple of Austin mornings until late 2013, when the partnership ended after JB’s contract was not renewed.

During their run, JB and Sandy earned significant local recognition, including multiple “Best Radio Show” awards from the Austin Chronicle and Best Morning Show honors from Austin Monthly. Their most impactful legacy is the JB and Sandy’s Bikes for Kids initiative, which began in the late 1990s and has distributed more than 20,000 brand-new bikes, helmets, and locks to children in need across Central Texas.

In a notable expansion of their reach, JB and Sandy brought their morning show to television when KEYE-TV (CBS Austin) replaced its early morning newscast with a simulcast of the program starting in late 2009. The simulcast, which typically aired from 5–7 a.m., allowed the duo’s radio banter and personality to reach a broader television audience for nearly two years.

Sandy also ventured into national and golf-focused programming. He co-hosted the golf talk show “Beemer and The Bald Guy” with 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem. The program aired on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio (Channel 208 / XM 93) and was syndicated to markets across the country. The show blended golf discussion with their signature humorous, laid-back banter, appealing to both serious golfers and casual fans.

Following the original show’s end, Sandy and JB had a brief reunion on Austin Radio Network’s 105.3 The Fringe in 2014. Sandy later hosted the syndicated The Sandy Show with his wife Tricia, which aired in Austin on iHeart’s KVET-HD2 starting in 2021.

In a full-circle return, Sandy reunited with JB Hager on April 1, 2026, bringing the JB and Sandy Morning Show back to iHeartMedia’s 98.1 KVET, with Tricia McIlree joining the team as a key on-air voice and Executive Producer of The JB and Sandy Show Podcast. The reunion has been met with strong enthusiasm from longtime listeners.

Sandy’s career reflects decades of dedication to local Austin radio, from building a major morning show to maintaining community connections through major initiatives and returning to the airwaves with the same authentic style that defined his work for over 30 years.