After a one-year absence, longtime Madison sportscaster Jay Wilson returns to the airwaves as WISC-TV's sports director.

Wilson's experience and knowledge of local sports is unmatched in the area.

"I'm thrilled to be selected sports director at WISC-TV," Wilson said. "Even though I've been a TV sports director in Madison for 20 years, it's a new station, it's a new challenge, and a new beginning -- something I can't wait to start."

"For years, we've enviously watched Jay's work," said WISC-TV news director Colin Benedict. "He understands local sports like no one else. He is simply a fantastic addition to our news team."

Wilson started his television career as the weekend sportscaster at WKOW-TV in Madison in 1980 where he worked until 1984.

From 1984 to 1987, he was the weekend sports anchor at WISN-TV in Milwaukee, and then returned to Madison as sports director at WKOW from 1987 to 2007. In the last year, he's been a play by play announcer for the Big Ten Network and When We Were Young Productions. Recently, he's been the play-by-play announcer for 'Channel 3000's "Prep Mania Game of the Week."

Wilson said he's excited to be back on the air nightly as part of the station's 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts on WISC-TV and the 9 p.m. newscast on MyMadisonTV. His first day will be Oct. 6.

"Over the last year or so, people always asked me 'how's retirement?', well, I never actually retired, I just needed the right opportunity to come along and this is it," Wilson said.

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in May of 1980 with a bachelor degree in broadcast journalism .

He's been the lead announcer for the WIAA State Basketball tournaments for 25 years. He's a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and this October, will be inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as well.

Jay and his wife, Jill, have three children, Katie, 18, Connor, 15 and Brett, 9.