Veteran journalist, Fort Worth native to lead Star-Telegram sports team

A Fort Worth native and veteran journalist has been named the next sports editor of the Star-Telegram.

Jim Barnes, a Castleberry High graduate, is returning home after spending the past 13 years with the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Barnes begins on Monday, Aug. 4.

“I started reading the Star-Telegram sports section when I was 5 years old,” said Barnes, whose parents and brother live in Fort Worth. “I’m beyond thrilled to return home to lead that section and work with a talented staff to deliver insightful and entertaining coverage of the DFW sports scene.”

After graduating from Castleberry, Barnes attended the University of Texas at Austin.

For the past three years, he served as an assistant sports editor of the Review-Journal. Previous duties there included being a reporter covering sports betting and poker; a business reporter covering casinos and gaming; and a copy editor.

Prior to working in Las Vegas, Barnes was the sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald. He started his career as a freelance high school sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News.

A movie buff, Barnes can be found at a theater once per week. He’s also an avid poker player, who has twice played — but not cashed in — in the World Series of Poker’s main event.

Barnes succeeds Dave Ammenheuser as sports editor of the Star-Telegram. Ammenheuser retired on July 31.

Steve Coffman, the Star-Telegram’s president and editor, said he was excited to have someone of Barnes’ experience and Texas ties lead the sports team.

“I am grateful for the excellent work Dave Ammenheuser has done with our staff, and I’m confident that Jim Barnes will take this handoff and continue to serve our readers in the best ways possible,” Coffman said.

This story was originally published August 2, 2025 at 3:45 AM.