ESPN has agreed to a new contract with SportsCenter anchor Nicole Briscoe, the network announced Thursday.
In addition to her ongoing SportsCenter responsibilities, Briscoe will host ABC’s Indianapolis 500 coverage this May. She formerly worked as a host and reporter on ESPN’s NASCAR coverage before the network lost rights to the sport in 2015. Prior to that, she covered motorsports, including the Indianapolis 500, for WISH-TV in Indianapolis and SPEED Channel. She is married to former IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe.
“I feel like this homecoming is a long time coming,” Briscoe said in a statement. “The Speedway has played such an important role in my life, professionally and personally. I cannot wait to be back and part of the 500.”
Briscoe has worked at ESPN since 2008. In addition to her NASCAR coverage, she has also appeared on the network’s Major League Baseball and X Games telecasts.
“Nicole is a very talented and professional anchor and we’re very happy she’ll be staying with us for years to come,” ESPN executive Norby Williamson said in a statement. “She brings a unique personality and presence to SportsCenter and anything else she does for us.”
The role as ABC’s Indianapolis 500 host opened up when Lindsay Czarniak left ESPN last summer. Czarniak had hosted the previous five Indy 500 races. Briscoe joins an impressive list of broadcasters to host ABC’s coverage of the event — a list that includes Brent Musburger, Al Michaels, Paul Page, and Jim McKay, among others.
[ESPN]
About Alex Putterman
Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.