Another Friday, another five questions for someone working behind the scenes helping with the beautiful game. This week, we were lucky to interview Marc Connolly, who serves as the chief researcher and editorial consultant for ESPN's MLS and U.S. National Team soccer broadcasts while also serving as the Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Holy Cross. Connolly spent nine years covering the U.S. National Team for ESPN.com, and has been a contributor to USA Today, ESPN The Magazine and Four Four Two. Connolly is also active in youth soccer, currently coaching on the boys side with FC Stars of Massachusetts. You can follow Marc on twitter @mconnolly10 and let's hope he can convince John Harkes to join Twitter too!
Soccer Banter: You started off as a staff writer for ESPN and then moved into the television side, how did that transition happen?
Marc Connolly: I started writing for ESPN.com/ABC Sports Online in 1996, basically right out of college. Most people were AOL subscribers back then, actually. I covered mostly college football and the NFL when I began. Slowly but surely the ESPN bosses were looking for content and I started doing some side features and covering some World Cup qualifiers here and there. And then the Women's World Cup came along in 1999. Suddenly, there was a need for a full-blown soccer writer, so I moved over to that beat. I enjoyed several years of covering MLS, the U.S. National Teams and even little football still at times. For the 2006 World Cup, I was asked to join JP Dellacamera and John Harkes to provide research and guidance for the entire trip in Germany. I ended up really loving the role and being on the TV side of things. It eventually turned into a full time position, more or less, which was great for me since it was easier to do that and coach at the same time than when I was a writer.
Soccer Banter: You started off as a staff writer for ESPN and then moved into the television side, how did that transition happen?
Marc Connolly: I started writing for ESPN.com/ABC Sports Online in 1996, basically right out of college. Most people were AOL subscribers back then, actually. I covered mostly college football and the NFL when I began. Slowly but surely the ESPN bosses were looking for content and I started doing some side features and covering some World Cup qualifiers here and there. And then the Women's World Cup came along in 1999. Suddenly, there was a need for a full-blown soccer writer, so I moved over to that beat. I enjoyed several years of covering MLS, the U.S. National Teams and even little football still at times. For the 2006 World Cup, I was asked to join JP Dellacamera and John Harkes to provide research and guidance for the entire trip in Germany. I ended up really loving the role and being on the TV side of things. It eventually turned into a full time position, more or less, which was great for me since it was easier to do that and coach at the same time than when I was a writer.
SB: What is your role during a broadcast of a soccer match?
MC: Whether it's Adrian Healey-John Harkes or Ian Darke/Julie Foudy or any combination of announcers doing a game, I basically provide information, insight, tidbits, statistics and anything else they might need on the fly. I'm connected to the producer and statistician on headset, so a lot of times I'm the link between the two as well. The important part of my job takes place in the buildup to the game, though, in researching the teams, watching their latest games, and spending a lot of time the day before and day of game with the announcers to make sure everyone is set to go. It's being part of the overall team that I enjoy the most.
SB: What has been your best experience working for ESPN?
MC: Soccer-wise, it was the six weeks spent in Germany traveling around from city to city with JP, John, and three others. We worked incredibly hard - often times pulling all-nighters - but also had a lot of fun and became very close in the process. Traveling to countries like Cuba and China are right up there, too.
SB: As youth coach with Stars of Mass and a college coach with Holy Cross, what are your thoughts on the following: youth soccer model in America compared to European countries and how does College Soccer fit into the development for a player wanting to become a professional?
MC: Whether it's Adrian Healey-John Harkes or Ian Darke/Julie Foudy or any combination of announcers doing a game, I basically provide information, insight, tidbits, statistics and anything else they might need on the fly. I'm connected to the producer and statistician on headset, so a lot of times I'm the link between the two as well. The important part of my job takes place in the buildup to the game, though, in researching the teams, watching their latest games, and spending a lot of time the day before and day of game with the announcers to make sure everyone is set to go. It's being part of the overall team that I enjoy the most.
SB: What has been your best experience working for ESPN?
MC: Soccer-wise, it was the six weeks spent in Germany traveling around from city to city with JP, John, and three others. We worked incredibly hard - often times pulling all-nighters - but also had a lot of fun and became very close in the process. Traveling to countries like Cuba and China are right up there, too.
SB: As youth coach with Stars of Mass and a college coach with Holy Cross, what are your thoughts on the following: youth soccer model in America compared to European countries and how does College Soccer fit into the development for a player wanting to become a professional?
MC: It's getting better every year. It really is. You see coaches now at the very young ages that are well-versed in the game and, in many cases, former college players. That didn't happen when people my age were coming up. Back then, it was all parents. The overall soccer IQ of the players is higher, too, since they have so many options available to them to watch on TV. That really makes such a difference.
College soccer will always have its place. It's just the way our country is built. It's not as important as it once was because so many of our top youth players have opportunities at 17 and 18. For college soccer, the subbing rules need to be more restricted and the offseason time allowed to train as a group and play matches needs to be expanded.
SB: A "source" told me you rebounded pre-game jumpers for Larry Bird, please explain?
MC: I have some experience as a Celtics ball boy, yes. It really didn't get much better than that when you are 10 years old and living in Massachusetts.
College soccer will always have its place. It's just the way our country is built. It's not as important as it once was because so many of our top youth players have opportunities at 17 and 18. For college soccer, the subbing rules need to be more restricted and the offseason time allowed to train as a group and play matches needs to be expanded.
SB: A "source" told me you rebounded pre-game jumpers for Larry Bird, please explain?
MC: I have some experience as a Celtics ball boy, yes. It really didn't get much better than that when you are 10 years old and living in Massachusetts.
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