Alumni Spotlight – Jeff Molinsky 97 and Joel Molinsky ’98

Someone very wise once said, “When you love what you’re doing, you’ll never work a day in your life.” But most of us will never have the opportunity to put that statement to the test. Our mantra at the end of an exhausting and frustrating day will be, “That’s why they call it work.”

Not so with former Warriors Jeff and Joel Molinsky who, as classic sports fans, have earned the opportunity to live a dream, a career with ESPN, the world’s most recognized name in sports broadcast journalism.

Jeff was active in soccer at Susquehannock, contributing to the powerhouse teams of the nineties. He was active on student council, worked for the student newspaper, The Courier (as Sports Editor), played baseball and ran track.

After graduation, Jeff attended Penn State York where he continued his soccer career, earning all-conference honors both of the years he played. He graduated from Penn State Main Campus in 2001, with a degree in Telecommunications and a specialty in Television. After graduation, Jeff joined public access television in the State College area, working local football games and contract jobs, including the 2001 X-Games in Philadelphia and ESPN Friday night fights. He also worked some college football games for ABC. It wasn’t long before he received a full-time offer from ESPN. Jeff is now a manager in the network’s programming department, supervising the work of 15 associates producing screen-live events, re-aired events, and editorial shows.

What is remarkable about this story is that his younger brother Joel followed the same path – literally – and the two are now next-door neighbors in Bristol, and both are working for ESPN.

Joel’s passion for sports also began with a passion for soccer. He excelled in the sport at Susquehannock, starring on several championship squads from 1995 to 1998. He was a member of the Student Council and active in the Big Buddy program, but quickly acknowledges, “Soccer was my life at school.”

After graduation, he attended Penn State York, where he also played soccer while majoring in elementary education. It was after a transfer to Penn State Harrisburg that he realized that a career in telecommunications was his calling. Joel graduated from Penn State Main Campus in 2003, with a bachelor’s degree and a specialty in television. He began working for a public access station in the State College area, producing local government council meetings, board of education meetings, and high school cultural events.

After nine months, he too found himself at the right place at the right time and got a break with ESPN, the Connecticut based media giant. He started as a media operator – an entry-level position – feeding live news feed into shows while on the air. After about two years, he was promoted to Associate Director and then Lead Associate. His main shows are Baseball Tonight and Sports Center, ESPN’s signature show.

While the brothers’ professional careers are remarkably similar, their personal lives vary slightly. Jeff is married (Marjorie, a Spring Grove alumnus) and has two children, Noah (seven months) and Caleb (three years). Joel remains single (but unavailable).

The brothers maintain roots in the area as their parents still live in New Freedom.

Thanks, Jeff and Joel Molinsky for making us Warrior Proud.