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| Linda Cohn | |
|---|---|
| Name | Linda Cohn |
| Birth date | 1959-11-21 |
| Birth place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Sports broadcaster, radio host, television personality |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Employer | ESPN |
Linda Cohn is an American sports broadcaster and radio host best known for her long tenure as an anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter and as a host on Sirius XM Radio. She has worked across television and radio platforms covering NHL play, NFL events, Olympic Games, and other major sports broadcasting properties, becoming one of the prominent women in sports media. Her career spans local stations in the Northeastern United States to national network roles in Bristol, Connecticut.
Cohn was born in New York City and raised in Woodbury, New York and spent part of her youth near Long Island. She attended State University of New York at Oswego where she played ice hockey and pursued studies linked to broadcast journalism before transferring to Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications to study broadcasting. During her college years she developed ties to local programs connected to college radio, NCAA Division III athletics, and regional sports coverage outlets that led to early positions at stations affiliated with CBS, NBC, and independent radio station affiliates.
Cohn's early professional work included positions at regional radio outlets and television stations in the Northeast United States, involving shifts at affiliates of WABC (AM), WFAN, WNYW, and other market stations. She moved through roles that encompassed weekend anchor responsibilities, play-by-play coverage for minor league hockey teams, and reporting assignments for regional sports networks connected to MSG Network and NESN. Her radio resume expanded to include freelance hosting and specialty programs appearing on platforms linked to ABC Radio, CBS Radio, and later satellite services such as SiriusXM.
Cohn joined ESPN in the early 1990s and became closely identified with the network's flagship program SportsCenter, anchoring numerous editions alongside colleagues from Keith Olbermann to Scott Van Pelt. At ESPN2 and the main channel she covered NHL on ESPN telecasts, feature segments on marquee events like the Stanley Cup Finals, and breaking sports news across leagues including the NBA and MLB. Her ESPN tenure included collaborations with producers and executives tied to John Skipper, editorial teams that coordinated coverage of the Olympic Games bids and broadcasts, and appearances on studio shows connected to Monday Night Football and other flagship properties. She also maintained a presence on ESPN Radio and contributed to special reports produced in Bristol, Connecticut.
Across her career Cohn has interviewed a wide range of figures from Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux to coaches and executives such as Pat Riley, Don Cherry, and general managers linked to NHL franchises and NFL teams. She produced feature interviews addressing player milestones for athletes like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, covered franchise moves involving organizations such as the Ottawa Senators and Atlanta Thrashers, and reported on controversies that engaged entities including the NCAA and the NHL Players' Association. Her reporting touched on event-level stories at the Stanley Cup, the Winter Olympics, and international tournaments that involved federations like the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Cohn's work has been recognized by peers in sports media and broadcasting associations; her achievements have included nominations and awards from industry bodies such as the Broadcasting & Cable community, honors from women in sports organizations, and acknowledgment in lists published by outlets like The New York Times and Sports Illustrated covering influential media figures. She has been cited in retrospectives about pioneering women in sports journalism alongside contemporaries from ESPN and other networks, and has received local commendations in markets where she worked earlier in her career.
Cohn has spoken publicly about issues related to media workplace culture, athletes' mental health, and advocacy for women's roles in sports media; she has participated in panels with representatives from organizations such as Women in Sports and Events and advocacy groups connected to athlete welfare. Residing in the Northeastern United States, she balances professional duties with family life and has engaged with charitable initiatives linked to youth ice hockey development programs and regional community foundations. She has also appeared on podcasts and radio programs alongside hosts from SiriusXM and public radio outlets to discuss career and lifestyle topics.
Category:American sports announcers Category:ESPN people