KENS has hired Mat Garcia to replace longtime morning anchor Fred Lozano, who is set to retire after more than three decades on San Antonio TV.

“We conducted a nationwide search and we are pleased to bring a journalist of Mat’s caliber to join Sarah Forgany, Natalie Tejeda and Paul Mireles,” KENS president and general manager Bob McGann said, referring to the CBS-affiliate’s current morning roster.

A Texas native, Garcia comes to KENS from KOCO in Oklahoma City, where he spent three years as a morning anchor before being bumped off the show in April.

“I have always dreamed of coming back to Texas,” Garcia said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more excited about coming to San Antonio and getting to work for the premier station in South Texas.”

Here’s video of Garcia at the KOCO anchor desk…

[KENS]