MIKE TIRICO:
ESPN Radio Afternoon Co-Host
NFL/College Football/NBA Play-by-Play
tiricoandvanpelt@espnradio.com
Versatile sportscaster Mike Tirico, the Monday Night Football commentator who has hosted or served as play-by-play voice for many of ABC and ESPN’s marquee events, will host ESPN Radio’s weekday 1-3 p.m. ET program slot beginning Thursday, Sept. 20. Additionally, Stephen A. Smith of 1050 ESPN Radio in New York, will host the network’s 3-4 p.m. hour.
"With Monday Night Football, the NBA Finals and now a daily radio platform, Mike Tirico has arrived at the pinnacle of sports broadcasting with premier assignments in television and radio," said Norby WIlliamson, executive vice president, studio and remote production.
Added Traug Keller, senior vice president, production, business divisions: “Having a daily radio show hosted by Mike Tirico will cement our position as the sports listen of record in mid-day talk radio. And, Stephen A. Smith’s strong voice will be a welcome addition for our national radio audience.”
Tirico’s ties to ESPN Radio date to its January 1992 debut when he served as an original host. He most recently has handled the network’s play-by-play responsibilities for the Conference Finals and NBA Finals, assignments that will continue. He has also anchored The NFL on ESPN Radio (1993-96), was the first host of The NBA on ESPN Radio (1995, 1996), and was the voice of ESPN Radio’s weekday afternoon drivetime “SportsBeat” segments (2004).
“It is a thrill to return to my roots in two different ways as radio is the medium where I started my career during my college days at WAER in Syracuse, and I remember being part of the team the first weekend ESPN Radio hit the air in January of 1992,” Tirico said. “I am really looking forward to returning to the day-to-day sports conversation that is talk radio.”
SCOTT VAN PELT:
ESPN Radio Afternoon Co-Host
ESPN SportsCenter Anchor
tiricoandvanpelt@espnradio.com
Scott Van Pelt joined ESPN in Spring 2001 as the network's lead professional golf reporter. He has since become a SportCenter anchor, primarily hosting the 11 p.m. ET edition while remaining the lead reporter and host of the network's coverage of golf's grand slam events. In April 2008 he was named co-host ESPN Radio's Tirico and Van Pelt weekday show (1-3 p.m. ET M-F). Previously he shared regular co-hosting duties on The Mike Tirico Show (1-3 p.m. M-F) which debuted in September 2007.
In 2001, Van Pelt sat down for a one-on-one interview with Tiger Woods after he won the U.S. Open to capture the "Tiger Slam," four majors in a row. The interview was featured on ESPN's Sunday Conversation.
Van Pelt joined ESPN from The Golf Channel (TGC) where he was an anchor and reporter for the sport-specific network from 1994-2000. Soon after joining TGC's on-air team, Van Pelt reportorial skill helped him to move up the ranks quickly. At TGC, he was the co-host of Golf Central, Leaderboard Report and occasional host of Viewer's Forum - all signature studio programs for the network.
Over his career, Van Pelt has covered all the major golf tournaments - the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship. Following Tiger Woods' victory at the 1997 Masters (his first at the tournament), Van Pelt conducted an exclusive half-hour interview with the young Woods for a critically acclaimed network special, Tiger Woods: In His Own Words. He has also covered numerous USGA events, NCAA Men's and Women's championships, BUY.COM Tour events and Senior PGA Tour events.
Van Pelt began his sports broadcasting career at WTTG-TV (FOX) in Washington, D.C. in 1990. He worked in WTTG sports studio production department contributing content for the station's The 10:00 News, Sunday Night's Sports Extra and specials on the Washington Redskins.
A native of Brookville, Md., Van Pelt graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor's degree in Radio/Television and Film.