ESPN is gearing up for the debut of its network with The University of Texas at Austin by naming two ESPN employees with more than 40 years of combined experience at ESPN to top programming and production posts.
Dave Brown, vice president, programming and acquisitions, college football, will now serve as vice president, programming, for the university’s 24-hour network. Stephanie Druley, senior coordinating producer for ESPN’s NFL studio shows, will serve as vice president, production. Both will relocate to Austin, Texas.
Brown, who has been with ESPN since 1987, has established himself as the college football scheduling expert across all ESPN networks. He has handled scheduling for a variety of other programming initiatives including college basketball and NCAA championships.
He will lead the strategic direction for the network’s business dealings and content offerings. His oversight will include everything from creation of new shows and concepts, to scheduling, acquisitions and the network’s business plan. He will report to Burke Magnus, senior vice president, college sports programming.
John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, program acquisitions and strategy, said of Brown, “There is no one better suited to tap into Texas’ passionate fan base than Dave. He brings to this role a wealth of great relationship with schools and coaches including Texas, a deep knowledge of our business and an unmatched wizardry for scheduling.”
Brown said, “This is a tremendous opportunity to work with everyone at The University of Texas on building a network that will bring more content than ever to Longhorns fans in the state of Texas and nationwide.”
Druley, a Conroe High School and Texas graduate who served as sports director at the student radio station, began at ESPN as a production assistant in 1990. While at ESPN, she has produced studio shows for 14 Super Bowls, and most recently led all of ESPN’s NFL studio show coverage for Super Bowl XLV in Texas.
She will return to her home state to oversee the overall production of the network. Her responsibilities include studio and remote productions, the look of all on-air content and the hiring of all network talent. Druley will report to Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production.
Williamson said of Druley, “I am confident Stephanie will bring her production acumen to all facets of this new venture. She has proven herself a knowledgeable and forward-thinking producer in working on some of our highest-profile shows including our NFL offerings. Texas is in good hands.”
Druley said, “I am extremely excited about this new challenge in Austin. As a Texas graduate, it is an honor to help create the network for Longhorn fans.”
About The University of Texas at Austin Network
ESPN has reached a 20-year agreement with The University of Texas at Austin and IMG College to develop, debut and operate a year-round, 24-hour network dedicated to the university. The network, scheduled to be introduced in September 2011, will offer a variety of content, highlighted by more than 200 exclusive events annually from numerous sports, original series and studio shows, historical programming and academic and cultural happenings. An online broadband companion to the TV network will offer extensive content, particularly events not featured on the linear TV network due to simultaneous events or other overlapping programming.
Visit the TV network information page on TexasSports.com for the latest news about the new channel.
