Mike Monaco has inked a new three-year deal at ESPN, cementing his future at the network as he continues to call a wide variety of events as a play-by-play announcer.
Aside from his regional work with the Boston Red Sox, Monaco has been utilized by ESPN on coverage of various events since he signed with the company in 2019. From that time on, he has called Major League Baseball, college baseball and the Little League World Series on the network, along with softball, football, lacrosse, basketball and volleyball.
Monaco has contributed to coverage on the ACC Network as well, which ESPN launched in the summer of 2019 within its new contract with the Atlantic Coast Conference, a 20-year pact worth an estimated $4.8 billion. News of Monaco’s new contract was first reported by Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.
Before joining ESPN, Monaco worked with FOX Sports and the Big Ten Network to call football, soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse games. In a previous interview with Barrett Sports Media, he stated that NHL on ESPN play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough served as a mentor for him. While he had no influence in his joining the network in 2019, Monaco now calls McDonough his colleague and someone who has given him advice on how to succeed in the field over the years.
Outside of ESPN, Monaco had a viral moment during Red Sox Spring Training when he was behind the microphone for the first MLB game to end on a pitch clock violation. On a 3-2 count with two outs in the ninth inning, the batter was called out after he was not set in the batter’s box with at least eight seconds to go. It was a moment the former New England Sports Network (NESN) intern and versatile, adept broadcaster was prepared for, which received rave reviews from consumers around the country.
While it remains unknown if the nature of Monaco’s assignments will change because of the new contract, he is now signed to be part of the network as it works on launching a direct-to-consumer product and explores bringing on a strategic partner. This week, Mike Monaco will call a college basketball game between Dartmouth and Duke on Monday, an NHL showdown between the Oilers and Sharks on Thursday, and Oklahoma State’s matchup against UCF on Saturday.
