Patrick Reusse today will be named host of AM-1500 KSTP radio's morning show. His duties begin on Jan. 12. The program will run from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. each weekday.

Reusse succeeds Willie Clark, who was fired in Mid-December along with producer Jeremy Kienitz.
Reusse will have as his right-hand man Jay Kolls, who had been teamed with Clark.
On the air this morning, the two acknowledged the difficulty of working a show that starts at 5:30 a.m. Kolls likened it to permanent jet lag, while Reusse gave himself the needle by noting that at least he is young and fit enough to handle the pre-dawn start five days a week.

Reusse, who has been with the station for 25 years, will continue his Saturday morning sports show with KSTP weekday afternoon host Joe Soucheray. Reusse also does a Sunday morning sports show with Brad Lane and fellow Star Tribune columnist Brad Lane.

Reusse, who joined the Star Tribune in 1988, will continue his column each Thursday and Sunday in the sports section and on startribune.com.