Jeannine Edwards
{{short description|American sportscaster}}
{{Notability|1=Biographies|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jeannine Edwards
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|3|12}}
| birth_place = Tenafly, New Jersey
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| years_active = 1993–2017
| spouse = {{marriage|Glenn Spencer|2013}}
| module = {{Infobox sports announcer details
| team =
| genre = Color analyst, Sideline reporter
| sport = College football, College basketball, Horse racing
| employer =
}}
}}
Jeannine Edwards (born March 12, 1964) is a former ESPN/ABC sportscaster focusing on college football, college basketball and horse racing.
Early career
Edwards began a career with racehorses that spanned 10 years as an exercise rider, apprentice jockey, and trainer in New York and New Jersey.{{Cite web |title=Q&A: Jeannine Edwards |url=https://www.drf.com/news/qa-jeannine-edwards |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.drf.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hackbarth |first=Chelsea |date=2018-01-04 |title=Breeders' Cup Presents Connections: Edwards Looks Back On Career Of Asking Right Questions |url=https://paulickreport.com/nl-art-1/edwards-looks-back-career-asking-right-questions |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Paulick Report {{!}} Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world |language=en}}
After moving to Maryland in 1993, Edwards began TV work as an in-house host at the Pimlico and Laurel Park race courses.{{Cite web |last=Zurawik |first=David |date=2012-05-17 |title=Jeannine Edwards on covering the Preakness for ESPN |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/05/17/jeannine-edwards-on-covering-the-preakness-for-espn/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}
ESPN and ABC
In 1995 Edwards was selected as an analyst for a new ESPN studio show: The "National Best 7". The show morphed into "2Day at the Races" and ran for five years.{{Cite web |last=Bornstein |first=Ben |date=2017-12-26 |title=ESPN reporter of more than 20 years announces departure from the company |url=https://fanbuzz.com/college-football/jeannine-edwards-announces-departure-espn-after-22-years/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=FanBuzz |language=en-US}}
During that time, Edwards continued working part-time for the Maryland tracks. Shortly thereafter she began reporting full-time for ESPN's remote racing telecasts as well as branching out into sideline reporting for the network's College Football and Basketball coverage. Edwards also became a general assignment reporter on ESPN's SportsCenter in 2009.
With her background in horse racing, Edwards served as the senior reporter for all of ESPN and ABC's live horse racing series, including the Breeders' Cup, Dubai World Cup and extensive Triple Crown coverage.
Edwards was a familiar face on SportsCenter, the flagship news and highlights show on ESPN covering everything from College Football and the NFL to College Basketball and MLB. Her prowess for covering major stories and breaking news as well as her knack for bringing viewers behind the scenes with her creative live shots made her a sought-after regular on the network’s highest-rated shows.{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Dan |date=2015-04-03 |title=Edwards tackles myriad tasks in new role as bureau reporter |url=https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2015/04/edwards-tackles-myriad-tasks-new-role-bureau-reporter/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=ESPN Front Row |language=en-US}}
Edwards also worked the football sidelines for ABC and ESPN as part of the networks’ popular and highly-rated Saturday College Football programming. She was ESPN's Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) reporter for Men's College Basketball as well as a primary voice covering the NCAA Tournament and Final Four. Additionally, Edwards subbed as a fill-in host for studio shows such as First Take and NFL Live.{{Cite AV media |url=https://vimeo.com/562733241 |title=Jeannine Edwards Demo Reel.mov |date=2021-06-14 |last=JeannineEdwardsSpencer |access-date=2025-04-17 |via=Vimeo}}
Awards and notable appearances
Edwards was recognized for her outstanding reporting for ESPN, ABC News and Good Morning America on the injury and subsequent death of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.{{Cite web |last=ESPN.com news services |date=May 20, 2006 |title=Barbaro injured early; Bernardini wins Preakness |url=https://www.espn.com/horse/triplecrown06/news/story?id=2452205 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Paulick Report {{!}} Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-05-20 |title=Jeannine Edwards On The 141st Preakness, Nyquist's Chances & Barbaro - CBS Baltimore |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/jeannine-edwards-on-the-141st-preakness-nyquists-chances-barbaro/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} Edwards was asked to write the forward to the book "Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro And His Legacy".{{Cite book |title=Amazon.com |isbn=0983213909 |language=en-us}}
Edwards and the ESPN horse racing team won three consecutive Eclipse® Awards (2009, 2010, and 2011) for Outstanding Live Telecasts, as well as two Emmy® nominations.{{Cite web |last=BloodHorse Staff |date=December 29, 2011 |title=Third Straight Eclipse Award for ESP |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/132575/third-straight-eclipse-award-for-espn |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association selected Jeannine as the first female to host the Eclipse Awards ceremony; she hosted for a record 7 straight years.{{Cite web |last=BloodHorse Staff |date=December 19, 2011 |title=Broadcaster Edwards to Host Eclipse Awards |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/132674/broadcaster-edwards-to-host-eclipse-awards |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}{{Cite web |last=BloodHorse Staff |date=January 2, 2019 |title=Edwards Returns to Host Eclipse Awards a Seventh Time |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/231360/edwards-returns-to-host-eclipse-awards-a-seventh-time |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyCsnTEiQ6M |title=In The Spotlight: Jeannine Edwards |date=2014-05-14 |last=America's Best Racing |access-date=2025-04-17 |via=YouTube}}
In June 2012, Edwards was identified by The Los Angeles Daily News as one of "The 40 Women Who Raised the Bar in Sports Media".{{Cite web |date=2012-06-22 |title=TITLE IX, 40 YEARS LATER: Broadcasters lend voices to legacy |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2012/06/22/title-ix-40-years-later-broadcasters-lend-voices-to-legacy/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Daily News |language=en-US}}
In 2018, Edwards received the Preakness Special Award of Merit at the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course. The Special Award of Merit is given to those who have made a positive impact on the racing industry. Previous recipients have been Jim McKay, D. Wayne Lukas, Dr. Dean Richardson and Edgar Prado, Team American Pharoah, Jerry Bailey and King Leatherbury.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-07 |title=JEANNINE EDWARDS TO RECEIVE PREAKNESS SPECIAL AWARD OF MERIT - Preakness Stakes |url=https://www.preakness.com/news/jeannine-edwards-to-receive-preakness-special-award-of-merit |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=en-US}}
Post retirement
Edwards stepped away from television at the end of December 2017 after a 22-year career at ESPN. Edwards was consistently rated among the most respected female sportscasters in the business.{{Cite web |title=Jeannine Edwards to Receive Preakness Special Award of Merit {{!}} Pimlico |url=https://www.pimlico.com/race-info/news/jeannine-edwards-receive-preakness-special-award-merit |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.pimlico.com}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-17 |title=Longtime ESPN Reporter Jeannine Edwards Retiring After This Week's Cotton Bowl |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com:443/Daily/Issues/2017/12/27/Media/Edwards/?issueId=MG7VZHTNOAU2HEBU2RLPNYINKA |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Andy |date=2017-12-26 |title=Cotton Bowl marks end of Jeannine Edwards' remarkable career |url=https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2017/12/cotton-bowl-marks-end-jeannine-edwards-remarkable-career/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=ESPN Front Row |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2017-12-26 |title=ESPN college football sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards announces retirement |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/espn-college-football-sideline-reporter-jeannine-edwards-announces-retirement |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}
Since 2022 Edwards has been serving as a VIP ambassador and handicapper for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.
Personal life
Native of Tenafly, NJ; graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township NJ in 1982.
In 2013 Edwards made national news when she married then-Oklahoma State Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer. The two had met after Edwards did a sideline story about the death Spencer's first wife.{{Cite web |last=Rapp |first=Timothy |title=Jeannine Edwards Engaged to Oklahoma State D-Coordinator Glenn Spencer |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1533996-jeannine-edwards-engaged-to-oklahoma-state-d-coordinator-glenn-spencer |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=bleacherreport.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=George |title=Out of grief, coach and ESPN reporter find love |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2013/05/21/oklahoma-state-glenn-spencer-jeannine-edwards/2325877/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Glenn Spencer, Jeannine Edwards have an abnormal, long-distance relationship that works |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/cowboys/2013/07/11/glenn-spencer-jeannine-edwards-have-an-abnormal-long-distance-relationship-that-works/60900420007/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2013-05-15 |title=Oklahoma State's Spencer and ESPN's Edwards: A love story |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/oklahoma-states-spencer-and-espns-edwards-a-love-story/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Jeannine}}
Category:College basketball announcers in the United States
Category:American television sports announcers
Category:People from Tenafly, New Jersey
Category:College football announcers