Rich Donnelly joined the First Coast News team as an anchor/reporter in November 2021 and is thrilled to call the Sunshine State home!
He most recently worked in his hometown of Rochester, NY and was the sports director at WHEC for 5 years.
His time in Rochester actually brought him to Jacksonville, and specifically the roof of First Coast News, where he reported live prior to the Jaguars playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in January 2018.
While at WHEC, he also reported extensively on the program Battlefields 2 Ballfields, which helps military veterans become sports officials in their local communities. The program helped dozens of veterans in the Rochester area as well as hundreds of veterans across the country.
When he's not at work, Rich is constantly smiling because he's traded his snow shovels for flip-flops. However, he also likes to play hockey and is on the lookout for a local team that can use a sub-par goalscorer. If he's not playing on frozen water, he's in search of great places to take his kayak.
After graduating from Marquette University in 2009 Rich got his start in television at WHAM in Rochester, followed by stops at WTAP in Parkersburg, WV and WSAZ in Huntington, WV. He is also an Eagle Scout.
Rich, his wife Rebecca, and their dog Baron live in Jacksonville and are excited to meet new people and explore their new home.
If you have story ideas to share with Rich, reach out to him at rdonnelly@firstcoastnews.com and follow him on Twitter @RichFCN.