Fred Toucher Announces New Co-Host On The Sports Hub Morning Show

BOSTON, MA — Just one month after Rich Shertenlieb suddenly left 98.5 The Sports Hub's morning show, Fred Toucher officially has a new co-host!

Rob "Hardy" Poole, who has worked in the Boston market for 25 years and has been a part of the Sports Hub since the station launched in Aug. 2009, will step into his new role alongside Toucher and Jon Wallach on Jan. 4, Toucher announced on Tuesday morning's broadcast.

The show, formerly known as "Toucher and Rich" and now renamed "Toucher and Hardy," will air weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Hardy worked as a rock DJ for 15 years at WBCN before moving to 98.5. Over the past several years at the station, Hardy has appeared as third chair on the "Zolak & Bertrand" show and hosted the "Sports Hub Golf Club" podcast — and he can be heard on Beasley’s Rock 92.9.

Speaking about his new gig, Hardy told 98.5 that 'as a lifelong radio guy,' he's "thrilled for this opportunity."

"I’m looking forward to working with Fred and the rest of the morning show crew on what I believe will be a great show," Hardy added.

In his own statement to the station, Toucher noted that he's "known Hardy and admired his talent for many years."

"I’m very excited to begin this new chapter and feel revitalized by the new opportunity," Toucher added.

For fans of "Toucher and Rich" — the long-running, humor-focused morning show considered to be one of the most successful radio programs in New England — it's still up in the air how the dynamics of the show will change now that Rich Shertenlieb is gone and replaced.

Though both hosts had previously discussed long-standing tension in their friendship and professional partnership, it was not disclosed on the program Nov. 9 that it was Shertenlieb's last day.

During the show the following day, Toucher shared details of periods of estrangement for the pair in the months leading up to Shertenlieb's departure.

"Earlier this year, Rich said some stuff on and off the air about me I didn't like," Toucher said. "So I texted him some things that I had been holding on to from the course of our relationship that he did not like."

Toucher took a month-long leave of absence from the show in the spring due to a throat issue—later diagnosed as leukoplakia—that was caught by a listener who noticed his voice sounded rough. When Toucher returned in May, Shertenlieb was notably absent.

In a series of tweets in late April, Toucher accused Shertenlieb and other show staff of failing to support him during his absence but later issued a public apology to Shertenlieb.

"The truth is he did reach out during my medical leave a number of times and even went so far as to offer his connections at [the hospital]," Toucher wrote on X in early May.

While Toucher said in November that he and Shertenlieb usually negotiated their contracts together, a news release from Beasley Media Group in October announced that Toucher had signed a multiyear contract to continue to serve at the helm of 98.5 The Sports Hub, with no mention of Shertenlieb.

According to Toucher, the group also offered to renew Shertenlieb's contract, but he did not accept.

In a statement on social media at the time, Shertenlieb wrote that he has "nothing but gratitude for 98.5 The Sports Hub listeners that have shared their mornings with us" and that he would be announcing his plans soon.

After working together at 99x in Atlanta, Shertenlieb and Toucher joined forces to launch their own radio program on WBCN in Boston in 2006. The show moved to 98.5 The Sports Hub in 2009 once WBCN shuttered.