ESPN director Kyle Brown died on Saturday after suffering a “medical emergency” at an NCAA baseball super regional in Winston Salem, N.C., the outlet announced.
He was 42.
The super regional matchup between No. 16 Alabama and No. 1 Wake Forest — which the Demon Deacons ended up winning 5-4 — was delayed for two hours for what officials claimed was a “non-game-related medical event,” according to USA Today.
“A 16-year ESPN employee, Kyle was a deeply admired member of our production team — and highly accomplished, having captured two Sports Emmy Awards while working a multitude of sports from baseball and basketball to Monday Night Football and college football,” ESPN said in a statement on Sunday.
Brown is survived by his wife, Megan, and their four children — Makayla, 14, Carson, 11, Camden, 9, and Madyn, 6, according to USA Today.
Prior to working at ESPN, Brown was a pitcher on the Ohio State baseball team, where he was a captain.
In a 2003 story on Ohio State’s website, Brown credits his love of sports television production to his former neighbor growing up in Washington Court House, Ohio, who was an ESPN director and let him tag along at events.
Brown had started working with ABC and ESPN whenever they came to Ohio State to televise games when he was a freshman in high school, according to the story.
He received a tribute from ESPN prior to the network’s coverage of Sunday’s super regional play, with anchor Kris Budden announcing the news of his passing.
“Kyle cherished the opportunities to have a career in sports,” Budden said. “His ESPN family wishes to extend our deepest condolences and full support to Kyle’s loved ones… Kyle will be greatly missed.”
Wake Forest beat Alabama 22-5 in Sunday’s clash to advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
It’s the program’s first time securing a bid to the tournament since 1955.
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