Wil Herren graduated in the first class at Franklin High School, in El Paso, Texas in 1997. While at Franklin he played football, ran track and wrestled for the Cougars. Along with UIL sports he played on numerous club soccer teams around the area.
After a semester at EPCC and Texas Tech, Herren joined the Army. He was an Infantryman with the 101st Airborne, Air Assault Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. An injury during an Eagle Flight exercise forced him to leave the military as an Honorable, Service Connected Disabled Veteran.
Herren went back to Texas Tech in 2001 where he was a manager on the Texas Tech Football team that played in the San Antonio Bowl.
In 2003, Wil moved to El Paso in order to work with his family as a federal contractor.
When podcasting became popular in 2012, Herren joined Rios Radio as on air talent along with other responsibilities, as a volunteer.
Discovering a passion for being on air, Herren re-enrolled at UTEP and completed a Bachelor's degree in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Anthropology in 2017.
While at UTEP, Herren began an internship at KVIA, ABC-7. In 2016 they hired him as a photographer. As soon as he graduated, Herren was promoted to a multimedia journalist. During his six and a half years of employment, Herren had roles as a Photographer, MMJ, Reporter, Weekend Sports Anchor and Weekend Stormtracker/Weather Person.
In the Sports Department Herren covered the Aggie Football 2017 Arizona Bowl, 2022 Aggie Football appearance in the Motor City Bowl, and the last two NCAA Basketball Tournament NMSU appeared in. Herren covered the Triple A, El Paso Chihuahuas, and the inaugural season with the El Paso Locomotive. He also covered high school football as a reporter and anchor of the Borderland Blitz, the area's longest running high school football program.
Along with sports, Herren has covered hard news throughout the Southwest. He has interviewed local, state and federal figures.
During Donald Trump's presidency Herren was in El Paso covering multiple protests and changes to the border including the new wall donors added to the area. Herren was there for the migrant surge and subsequent emergencies.
He was on scene and reported from the Walmart Massacre in 2019 along with being in the studio describing the scene. The KVIA newsroom Herren was a part of also won a Murrow award for the coverage of the terrible event.
When COVID-19 hit the Borderland in 2020, Herren covered all angles of the pandemic as a reporter. During the riots and insurrection that took place after the death of George Floyd, Herren was there when protestors surrounded the El Paso Police Headquarters.
In 2021 ABC-7, KVIA asked Herren to become a Stormtracker and anchor weather on the weekends which he did until his departure in early 2023.
In February, Herren became the Sports Director at KADN, News15 where he covers sports all throughout Acadiana, handles weather duties when asked, and can even report if necessary.
During the Ragin Cajun’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament, Herren and News15, were the only Lafayette presence until the later rounds.
In March, Herren followed the team as they played in the NCAA Tournament in Orlando, Florida.
Herren has been live at both UL Baseball and Softball games since starting with KADN. Bringing the people of Acadiana interviews from players coaches all season.
He is your Real Ragin’ Cajun.
