Long-time ESPN Director Mike Schwab: Q&A

By L.K. Mata Cuevas | Published by December 23, 2021

Emmy award-winning and ESPN sports director Mike Schwab agreed to a Q&A during a visit to Kean University as part of the Sports Speaker series,  where Schwab discussed his journey working in the sports communications environment in the biggest American sports media franchises.

After the conference, The Tower’s sports editor, Dorian Alerte, and I met with the Connecticut native to learn more details about his career and how he found his passion in directing media during his college years.

 “I didn’t want it to be on the air,” Schwab said laughing. “So many people that get into the business have that goal. But I was able to take a director course in college and it just clicked. Then, while I was in college, I was able to direct a couple of football games… I think it’s hard to explain chemistry sometimes, right? It’s intangible.”

DA:    How would you say that your experiences directing in college, helped you understand how the job actually works?

MS:   When you have experience in different positions, in a collective group, you have not just understanding, but empathy for the different people and different roles because you’ve done those roles, you’ve been there. So, you have some understanding of where they are coming from, the challenges they might have in what you are trying to accomplish.

LM: Which do you think has been the most important game that you’ve ever directed?

MS:   I guess it was important, I would say it wasn’t a game. [While] working the ‘X-games’ over the years, there was a winner x-game athlete Sara Burke, who passed away. She was at the top of her competitions, and she hit her head on the SuperPipe and she didn’t survive that. Soon after that, we were on air, and they had a memorial for her including her husband and her parents, I was directing that. It wasn’t very long at all, but for me, I just felt a responsibility to make sure that was special knowing that it was a tribute to someone’s wife and someone’s daughter.

LM: How can you manage your emotions while being in a circumstance as emotional as such?

MS:   You compartmentalize and you focus on the task you’re handling. Push the emotional side away when you are executing and when you are planning the executing. Just really focus on the execution of what you are doing.

LM:   Have you ever cried after your favorite team lose the championship game?

MS:   Yes, The Red Sox. In the 1986 World Series, Bill Buckner happened. The Red Sox were one straight from winning the world series, it was in Shea Stadium and they flashed up, ‘Congratulations 1986 Boston Red Sox World Series Championship’. And then, one thing after another unfolded and they lost the game.

LM:   What is one sport that you still don’t understand?

MS:   Cricket, I don’t understand cricket. And I love all sports competitions, but I just don’t get it.

LM:   Is it Pork roll or Taylor ham?

MS:   Truth be told, I’m not originally from New Jersey. But it’s pork roll.

DA:    That’s the right answer!

LM:   With all the experience that you have gained so far if you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

MS:   Take the job seriously. But don’t take yourself that seriously.

---