WCCO Radio (AM 830) named a new program director on Wednesday: Bob Shomper, who comes from a station in Arizona.

Shomper succeeds Wendy Paulson, who left in February after about 10 years.

Near the end of Paulson's tenure, listeners saw the departures of on-air voices Al Malmberg, Brad Walton, Jack Rice, Tim Russell, Dark Star and Eric Eskola.

Also, the station's dominant hold on play-by-play coverage of college and professional sports over the years has shrunk of late down to one team -- the Timberwolves.

A native Midwesterner, Shomper was program director at KTAR-FM in Phoenix. He also has done programming for WBAP in Dallas and Chicago stations WGN and WLS.

"Bob's years of experience in, and knowledge of, the business are a perfect fit to help us continue building our success at WCCO," Mick Anselmo, the station's senior vice president, said in a statement. "His direction and leadership will be a great benefit to our community, the staff and listeners of WCCO."

PAUL WALSH