Bob Ley (born 1955)

ESPN sportscaster.[52]

What is Bob Ley (born 1955) known for?

Bob Ley, born on March 16, 1955, in Newark, New Jersey, is a renowned American sports anchor and reporter. Known for his significant contribution to ESPN, Ley became the longest-tenured on-air employee of the network, joining just three days after ESPN's launch in 1979 and retiring in June 2019.

Ley spent his early life in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and is an alumnus of Bloomfield High School. He kickstarted his broadcasting career at WSOU, Seton Hall University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. Early in his career, he also held minor broadcasting roles, including acting as a public address announcer with the New York Cosmos soccer team.

During his illustrious career, Ley hosted ESPN's groundbreaking investigative program, Outside the Lines, and SportsCenter. His coverage of major international professional soccer tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, is highly regarded. Ley's contributions to American soccer were recognized when he was awarded the first Men In Blazers Golden Blazer for lifetime services.

In honor of his early affiliation and remarkable dedication, Ley was recognized as one of the 19 "ESPN Originals" on ESPN's 35th anniversary. Later in his career, Ley announced an indefinite sabbatical from his ESPN hosting duties in October 2018 and officially retired in June 2019.

Despite retiring, Ley's commitment to education did not wane. He currently serves on the board of regents for Seton Hall University, contributing to the future of the institution where his career began.

Some of Ley's notable awards include his induction into the Bloomfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987, the Excellence in Sports Journalism Award from the Northeastern University Center for Study of Sport and Society and School of Journalism in 1995, membership in the WSOU-FM Hall of Fame, and numerous Sports Emmy Awards for Sports Journalism.

More about his life, achievements, and career can be discovered on his ESPN profile.