Cisco Cotto (born 1975) is a radio personality and pastor, serving as morning anchor on WBBM 780/105.9 and campus pastor at Village Bible Church in Naperville, Illinois.
Education Cotto graduated from Western Illinois University in 1998 and earned a Master of Divinity from Moody Bible Institute in 2010."Broadcasting & Journalism - 21st Century Broadcasting", Western Illinois University. Retrieved April 15, 2019."Changes & Additions At WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9", Chicagoland Radio and Media. September 17, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2019. He also earned a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics and Doctor of Ministry from Biola University."Cisco Cotto", The Defenders Conference. Retrieved April 15, 2019."Cisco Cotto - Week 7 Speaker", Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
Career Cotto began his radio career working as an intern for Moody Radio while he was in high school. While studying at Western Illinois University, he worked as a reporter at WIUM and WIUW."WIU Reporter Wins Award", The Beacon News. May 24, 1997. p. A8. He was awarded the Illinois News Broadcasters Association's Bill Miller Scholarship in 1997 for his work at WIUM and WIUW. He was hired as a news reporter at AM 670 WMAQ in 1998. In February 2000, Cotto left WMAQ to join AM 890 WLS as a news reporter and anchor.Kirk, Jim. "Exodus of Staffers at WMAQ-AM Continues", Chicago Tribune. February 16, 2000. Retrieved June 16, 2020."WLS-AM Removes Cisco Cotto From Middays; Promotes Wolf/Proft", Chicagoland Radio and Media. July 16, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2019. Cotto left WLS in 2006, and on October 5 he joined AM 560 WIND as co-host of the station's morning drive program, alongside Big John Howell.Feder, Robert. "New morning plans blowing in the WIND", Chicago Sun-Times. September 6, 2006. p. 69.Feder, Robert. "It's Howell & Cotto as WIND morning duo", Chicago Sun-Times. September 8, 2006. p. 57.Feder, Robert. "Letter to this column costs Loop jock her job", Chicago Sun-Times. October 5, 2006. p. 51. On March 19, 2009, Cotto moderated "The Great Debate", alongside WCPT's Dick Kay, which featured Thom Hartmann representing the liberal viewpoint and Michael Medved representing the conservative viewpoint, and was hosted by WIND and WCPT.Lazare, Lewis. "'The Great Debate' set for Thursday", Chicago Sun-Times. March 16, 2009."WIND, WCPT Team For 'Great Debate'", All Access Music Group. March 16, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
In 2010, Cotto rejoined WLS, initially co-hosting afternoons with Roe Conn, but after one month he was given his own show late mornings.Rosenthal, Phil. "Cisco Cotto says WIND-AM exit for WLS-AM now official", Chicago Tribune. January 04, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2019.Rosenthal, Phil. "Roe Conn welcomes Cisco Cotto to WLS-AM show; traffic-weather reporter Amy Jacobson reassigned", Chicago Tribune. January 10, 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2019.Cox, Ted. "WLS-AM ditches Mancow", Daily Herald. February 10, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2019.Lazare, Lewis. "Roe Conn inks new deal despite ratings", Chicago Sun-Times. February 27, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2019."WLS Dumps Mancow, Cassidy", NBC 5 Chicago. February 10, 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2019. Cotto was replaced in his late morning slot by Bruce Wolf and Dan Proft in 2011.Channick, Robert. "Cotto out, Wolf/Proft in as WLS-AM shakes up mornings", Chicago Tribune. July 15, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2019. After leaving WLS, Cotto began the process of starting Village Church of Oak Park, which opened the following year."Former Chicago Talker Cisco Cotto Plans New Church", All Access Music Group. August 31, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2019.Stempniak, Marty. "Talk radio personality says new 'Village Church' could be open next year in Oak Park", Wednesday Journal. September 20, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2019.Stempniak, Marty. "More on the Church of Cisco Cotto", Wednesday Journal. February 7, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2019.Koonse, Emma. "Cisco Cotto WLS Radio Personality to Open 'Irreligious' Church", Christian Post. August 31, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
In 2014, Cotto was hired as an anchor and reporter at WBBM 780/105.9."Cisco Cotto", WBBM. Retrieved April 15, 2019.Cisco Cotto Joins CBS RADIO's WBBM-AM, Chicago ", Talkers Magazine. September 17, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2019. Cotto won the Illinois Associated Press Broadcast Association award for best newscast in 2016."Winners of 2016 Illinois APBA broadcast contest announced", Associated Press. Fox 2 St. Louis. April 23, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
Cotto has appeared as a news reporter in the TV series Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.."News & Notes: Nick Shepkowski; Cisco Cotto; WXRT-FM; WLUP-FM; Cumulus Chicago; WXLC-FM; Jax; Rick Party; Matt Dahl", Chicagoland Radio and Media. January 20, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
References
External links Cisco Cotto's website Village Church of Oak Park