Mike McQuade, who joined ESPN in May 1987, was named Executive Vice President, Sports Production in August 2024. During his nearly four decades at ESPN, McQuade has been involved in nearly every aspect of ESPN’s studio and event production, including producing live events and studio shows in multiple sports.
A multiple Sports Emmy Award winner, McQuade oversees ESPN’s studio and event production for professional and college football, including the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff; NBA and WNBA; NHL, MLB; tennis, golf, boxing and UFC; and collegiate sports such as NCAA women’s and men’s basketball; baseball, softball, ACC and SEC Network; as well as wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics, field hockey and college ice hockey. He also oversees production coverage of the Little League World Series (girls and boys), college and professional lacrosse, Formula 1, the Special Olympics and the ESPYS.
Most recently, from 2018, he was Vice President and Executive Producer for Tennis (Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open), NHL (more than 145 games per year plus Stanley Cup playoffs and finals), Boxing, Golf (Masters and PGA Championship) and SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt – a program he helped develop.
McQuade, who has produced ESPN’s golf events since 2012 and was involved in production in years prior, brought many firsts to ESPN’s coverage of major golf championships, including working with Augusta National Golf Club to initiate the first broadcast of the annual Masters Par 3 Contest. He also oversaw ESPN and ABC’s live coverage of the Open Championship from 2012 to 2015, introducing the first live virtual graphics from both an airplane and the ground and the first live use of the Pro Tracer technology that is now a standard part of golf coverage.
In 2024, McQuade led ESPN’s live coverage of the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, including serving as producer and executive producer of the breaking news story on the arrest of PGA TOUR star Scottie Scheffler outside the golf course entrance.
As Vice President of Production from 2014 to 2018, McQuade was executive producer of all editions of SportsCenterHe led a team of producers and staff who redesigned ESPN’s daily news and information programming, giving each hour a unique and different theme, and established “SportsCenter on the Road,” taking the show to live locations. He oversaw the planning and production of breaking news coverage, including the death of Muhammad Ali and the championship wins of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Cubs.
Previously, he served as vice president of event production for all of ESPN’s Major League Baseball coverage from 2007 to 2014, overseeing premier events such as the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, ESPN’s major golf events and the Belmont Stakes. In MLB coverage, under McQuade’s leadership, ESPN was the first network to use live “K-Zone” technology throughout the game.
McQuade’s first production assignment was the 11 p.m. SportsCenter with Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann in 1993, a program he produced for three years. He then served as coordinating producer from 1996 to 1999. From September 1999 to 2006, he was senior coordinating producer, primarily responsible for all NBA studio shows on ESPN and ABC. He also ran ESPNEWS, including the September 7, 2001 relaunch. His first job at ESPN in 1987 was in the mailroom.
McQuade is from New York State and attended Syracuse University.
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