Rachel Margolis

Senior Publicist (College Sports)@ESPNRachel

New to the world wide leader – ESPN, I am not new to the sports world. Landing this job at ESPN in July has been an exciting adventure for me, while still working with college sports, new doors of opportunity have opened for me. Always an avid sports fan and not an athlete – I grew up a huge fan of the Hartford Whalers, while also watching my brother compete at different levels. I became the manager of several high school sports teams and continued that hobby into college. While at Quinnipiac, I worked in the Sports Information Department, which led me to a summer internship at the New Haven Ravens, a AA baseball team, and an eventual job with the Athletic Communications Department at the University of Connecticut. After my five-year stint at Connecticut, I spent six years as Director of Communications at the BIG EAST Conference in Providence, R.I. before joining ESPN.

Recent Posts

posted by on May 27, 2013 10:00 AM

WNBA star Sue Bird, recuperating from knee surgery, joins ESPN as studio analyst

Seattle's Sue Bird (right), seen here next to Minnesota's Maya Moore, joins ESPN as a WNBA analyst this season as she recuperates from an injury. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Seattle’s Sue Bird (right), seen here next to Minnesota’s Maya Moore, joins ESPN as a WNBA analyst this season as she recuperates from an injury. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Seven-time WNBA All-Star Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm will be part of ESPN2’s coverage of the 2013 WNBA season-opening Memorial Day doubleheader — featuring the top four teams from the 2013 WNBA Draft. The Washington Mystics meet the Tulsa Shock at 3 p.m. ET, followed by the Chicago Sky at the Phoenix Mercury at 5 p.m.

A two-time WNBA champion with the Storm, Bird will join ESPN anchor Max Bretos in-studio on Monday. She is currently sidelined for the 2013 season while recovering from left knee surgery. continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, Behind The Scenes, WNBAOnESPN

posted by on May 24, 2013 8:00 AM

ESPN Emerging Technology aids NCAA men’s lacrosse officiating with invention of the Stall Warning Device

In September 2012, the NCAA implemented a stall warning procedure for men’s lacrosse to include a 30-second time frame for the offensive team to take a shot — or risk losing possession.

Working with the NCAA, ESPN’s Emerging Technology division constructed a Stall Warning Device for the referees to wear during ESPN televised games. The referee flips the switch at the start of the Stall Warning, and the production truck produces a countdown clock graphic.

It will be used again at the 2013 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship Presented by Northwestern Mutual, set to air on ESPN networks Saturday and Monday from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Front Row talked with Anthony Bailey, vice president for Emerging Technology, about ESPN’s newest creation. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on April 10, 2013 11:48 AM

Final horn at Women’s Final Four signals more work, different sports for broadcast team and director

ESPN play by play announcers Dave O'Brien and Doris Burke. (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)

ESPN play by play announcers Dave O’Brien and Doris Burke. (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)

NEW ORLEANS — Last night’s NCAA Women’s National Title game victory by UConn signified the end of the college basketball season. But for members of ESPN’s broadcast team, that end is a beginning — starting tonight.

Play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien is on the call for the Red Sox radio network as Boston hosts Baltimore; Doris Burke goes from color analyst last night to NBA sideline reporter for tonight’s Brooklyn-Boston game (8 p.m., ESPN); and director Michael Schwab helms the second half of ESPN’s NBA doubleheader as Denver hosts San Antonio, with Dave Pasch and Hubie Brown on the call. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on April 9, 2013 11:00 AM

I Follow: Holly Rowe

ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN)

ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN)

Editor’s note: I Follow is all about ESPN employees on Twitter: what they tweet, whom they follow and how you can interact socially with anyone and everyone.

A familiar face on the sideline, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe is preparing to cover her eighth NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship game tonight when UConn and Louisville tip-off (ESPN, 8:30 ET). She shares her thoughts on the event and Twitter with Front Row. continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN College Basketball, I Follow: Inside Twitter

posted by on April 8, 2013 12:40 PM

Krewella sets fun tone for NCAA Women’s Final Four game intros

NEW ORLEANS — It’s NCAA Women’s Final Four time and that means Creative Content Unit Associate Producer Tara Baker is making magic in the edit room producing a variety of “teases,” “bump(er)s” and “opens” for the 2013 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game telecasts.

Last season, she showcased the personalities of the teams in photo-booth inspired teases that aired throughout the tournament. This year, the team’s personalities are framed within the energy of a music video. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN College Basketball

posted by on April 5, 2013 11:22 AM

Fan-driven ‘Tourney Snapshots’ an example of espnW’s assist to ESPN’s women’s basketball coverage

NEW ORLEANS — Senior Coordinating Producer Tina Thornton has helped incorporate the great content from espnW.com into each telecast throughout the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, including the upcoming Women’s Final Four on Sunday and Tuesday on ESPN.

The teamwork between TV and Digital is appreciated. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN College Basketball

posted by on March 19, 2013 11:33 AM

A new look and new challenge for ESPNU’s College Basketball Live: NCAA Women’s Special

Lya Vallat in the control room. (Photo courtesy of Lya Vallat)

Lya Vallat in the control room. (Photo courtesy of Lya Vallat)

Lya Vallat has produced many shows in her five-plus year career at ESPN, but when ESPN women’s basketball announcers Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli wanted to make their ideas a reality, Vallat had to put her experience to use.

Today, Mowins and Antonelli, along with Cara Capuano, Maria Taylor and Brooke Weisbrod, will take part in the execution of those ideas with a revamped, four-hour ESPNU College Basketball Live: NCAA Women’s Special beginning at 1 p.m. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on March 14, 2013 12:00 PM

ESPN college basketball analyst Brooke Weisbrod has all courts covered during Championship Week

Brooke Weisbrod and Beth Mowins during the Women's Big East Championship. (Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)

Brooke Weisbrod (C) and Beth Mowins (R) during the Women’s BIG EAST Championship. (Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)

Brooke Weisbrod’s itinerary

Arrived in Hartford, Conn., on Friday, March 8

BIG EAST Women’s Championship, Hartford, Conn.
· Second Round (March 9) on ESPN3 – Games 4 & 5
· Quarterfinals (March 10) on ESPNU – Games 8 & 9
· Semifinals (March 11) on ESPNU – Games 12 & 13

Traveled to Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, March 12

Atlantic 10 Men’s Championship, Brooklyn, N.Y.
· First Round (March 14) on NBCSN – Games 1-4

Atlantic 10 Women’s Championship, Brooklyn, N.Y.
· Championship Game (March 16) on ESPNU

Traveling to New Haven, Conn., on Sunday, March 17

Northeast Conference Tournament, Hamden, Conn.
· Championship Game (March 17) on ESPNU

Fly to Chicago on Monday, March 18
Selection Monday – UPS Total Performance Index Report for The Sporting News

Fly to Charlotte at 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19
College Basketball Live: NCAA Women’s Special 1-5 p.m. on ESPNU

Fly back to Chicago 8 p.m.

Brooke Weisbrod traveled often during her college basketball playing days, but that pales in comparison to her current schedule as a women’s basketball analyst.

Weisbrod is calling games in four conference tournaments in a one-week span, including six contests from the BIG EAST and title games for both the Northeast Conference and Atlantic 10.

A 2001 Coastal Carolina graduate, Weisbrod was the 2001 Big South Player of the Year and just the second player in her alma mater’s history to amass at least 1,000 points, 300 rebounds and 200 assists. She was also named the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the NCAA Woman of the Year for South Carolina.

After her collegiate career, Weisbrod joined ESPN in 2003 as a women’s college basketball analyst, and she has since added men’s basketball to her responsibilities. In addition to calling more than 25 regular-season games in 2012-13, she also works on college football, high school and studio programming.

In the midst of unquestionably her busiest week of the year, Weisbrod spoke with Front Row about her job and the experience of covering so many college tournaments during Championship Week.

How do you prepare for four tournaments in a one-week time span?
I do a lot of reading, make calls and watch game clips. ESPN has a great research and news department that sends daily emails to keep us dialed in. I also try to work ahead whenever I can. It is amazing how much you get done in the 20 minutes while waiting to board your plane.

How do you make it work not knowing the teams until the last minute?
I follow the main storylines from the conferences and know the big picture stories. There is a good chance I’ve already seen a couple of the teams, which also helps. I also take a deep breath and remind myself to enjoy the moment. I love the magic of the tournaments.

continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN College Basketball

posted by on February 15, 2013 2:17 PM

ESPN employees share memories of Kay Yow, reflect on Play 4Kay women’s basketball initiative

NEED CAPTION

(L-R) ESPN’s Carol Stiff, former Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt, Kay Yow (center, seated), former WBCA member Summer McKesson, WBCA Chief Executive Officer Beth Bass, ESPN’s Rosa Gatti, Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. (ESPN)

For the seventh straight year, ESPN will support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation for Cancer Research, by airing 12 women’s basketball games over two days, Sunday, Feb. 17, and Monday, Feb. 18, as part of the Play 4Kay initiative.

The fund is in memory of former NC State head coach Kay Yow, who died Jan. 24, 2009, after a long, courageous battle with breast cancer.

Carol Stiff, espnW’s Vice President, Content Program and Integration, and Lindsey Ross, ESPN Associate Manager, Programming, both knew Coach Yow and have played a part in the Play 4Kay initiative since its inception.

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• Front & Center Podcast:
Kevin Negandhi

What kind of person was Kay Yow and what was your relationship?
Ross: I was extremely fortunate to get to know Coach Yow, although for much too short of a time. I worked with her throughout my years in the Communications Department at the Atlantic Coast Conference office. She was definitely a one-of-a-kind person who everyone felt connected to immediately. I remember her saying that once people learned how to care more about others than themselves, then we would know that we had fully matured. I always felt that every word she said should have had quotation marks around it. That was just it — she constantly lived her life in a way that positively impacted someone else. Ironically, she still does today.

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, ESPN’s Lindsey Ross, The V Foundation’s Nick Valvano.

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, ESPN’s Lindsey Ross, The V Foundation’s Nick Valvano.
(Photo courtesy of Lindsey Ross)

What impact has the Kay Yow Cancer Fund had? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on February 13, 2013 3:51 PM

Front & Center: Kevin Negandhi

ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi. (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

Click HERE to listen or visit iTunes to download the podcast and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Front & Center podcast. Also, make sure to check out the ESPN Radio app, available for the iPad.

ESPN SportsCenter anchor Kevin Negandhi will join ESPN’s studio coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, replacing seven-year host Trey Wingo. Negandhi, along with veteran analysts Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck, will be in ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., studio for first- and second-round and regional action, as well as on-site in New Orleans for ESPN’s Final Four coverage.

Negandhi, Lawson and Peck will take to the air this Sunday as part of ESPN’s Play 4Kay initiative. On Monday, the trio will move from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., studios to the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., site of No. 3 Baylor at No. 1 Connecticut (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2), part of Big Monday Presented by Bud Light.

In the Front & Center podcast above, Negandhi talks about his dream of being a SportsCenter anchor; the prospect of playing pick-up basketball with Peck and Lawson; ESPN’s role in the growth of women’s basketball and more.

Filed in: Front & Center, Podcast