KHOU sportscaster Butch Alsandor ended the Feb Book with a bang. He surprised viewers with the news that he was leaving the station.

Durining last night's 10PM newscast (the last of the Feb Sweeps) Alsandor announced that he has decided to leave the station after 20 years, including almost four years as sports director.

“I’ve been thinking for quite a while that I’d like to try something new, and now, after 20 solid years, this seems like the time to go ahead with that,” he said in a statement issued by the station. “KHOU has been good enough to give me the opportunity, even though my contract still has several months remaining.

“I’ve had a great run over these past two decades, made lots of friends both at the station and across the community. And I look forward to many more interesting things to come. For now, I just want to offer my sincerest thanks to all the great Channel 11 viewers who’ve welcomed me into their homes for so long.”

The Houston Chronicle writes that Alsandor did not elaborate on his statement during the newscast, which included clips from his years at the station, and did not return a phone call seeking details on his decision.

Alsandor became sports director in April 2009 upon the departure of Gifford Nielsen, who left the station when two of his longtime producers were laid off. He joined Channel 11 in August 1993 from WBAL in Baltimore and also worked at KPLC in Lake Charles, La., where he was a three-year football letterman at McNeese State.

Susan McEldoon, KHOU’s president and general manager, said Alsandor approached station officials with his desire to leave while still under contract.

“Butch has been with us for 20 years, and when Gifford retired he was ready to step in and has done a fabulous job for us,” McEldoon said. “We are sorry to see him go.”

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