# Jen Lada

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jen_Lada
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jen_Lada.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen_Lada
> Source revision: 1314344130
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Jennifer Lada** (born January 14, 1981) is an American sportscaster for [ESPN](/source/ESPN). She previously worked for networks in [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee) and [Chicago](/source/Chicago).

## Early life and education

Lada grew up in the town of [Spring Grove, Illinois](/source/Spring_Grove,_Illinois), between Chicago and Milwaukee. She ran track at [Marian Central Catholic High School](/source/Marian_Central_Catholic_High_School).[1] She captained the cheerleading team while studying [communication](/source/Communication_studies) at [Marquette University](/source/Marquette_University) in Wisconsin, where she graduated in 2002.[1][2]

## Career

Lada began her broadcasting career after college as a sports reporter and anchor for the [NBC](/source/NBC) affiliate station [WREX](/source/WREX) in [Rockford](/source/Rockford,_Illinois), Illinois.[3] A restaurant service job supplemented her income in Rockford.[1] She moved to the [Fox](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) affiliate [WITI](/source/WITI_(TV)) in Milwaukee in 2006.[3][4] She eventually felt "limited" in her role as a weekend sports anchor for WITI, and in early 2013 she moved to a larger media market by joining the NBC affiliate [Comcast SportsNet Chicago](/source/Comcast_SportsNet_Chicago) (CSN).[4][5] At first hired to cover [NHL](/source/National_Hockey_League) hockey, she worked as a reporter and an anchor for CSN and sometimes appeared on its *[Kap](/source/David_Kaplan_(radio)) & [Haugh](/source/David_Haugh)* radio show.[5][6]

ESPN hired Lada in July 2015, originally to contribute to [Colin Cowherd](/source/Colin_Cowherd)'s [ESPN Radio](/source/ESPN_Radio) show, but Cowherd left the network before Lada would have begun in August 2015.[1][6] She briefly co-hosted a short-lived 8 p.m. ESPN Radio show, *Jorge & Jen*, with [Jorge Sedano](/source/Jorge_Sedano).[1][5] Lada recalled feeling "devastated" by her early experience at ESPN but managed to secure her role at the network by acting as a "utility player" who could contribute to a variety of shows.[1][7] Since 2016, she has served in long-term roles as a features reporter for *[College GameDay](/source/College_GameDay_(football_TV_program))* and a host for *[College Football Live](/source/College_Football_Live)*.[3][8] She has continued to appear on or guest host other ESPN shows, including *[Get Up](/source/Get_Up_(TV_program))* and *[SportsCenter](/source/SportsCenter)*.[9][10] A feature by Lada for *[E:60](/source/E:60)* about the death of college football quarterback [Tyler Hilinski](/source/Tyler_Hilinski) won a [Sports Emmy Award](/source/Sports_Emmy_Award) for Outstanding Short Documentary in 2020.[2][11]

Lada has remained active in regional sports media in Wisconsin. In 2020, she began co-hosting, with Gabe Neitzel and [Mark Chmura](/source/Mark_Chmura), a morning sports show for the ESPN radio affiliate [WKTI](/source/WKTI) in Milwaukee.[3][12] In 2022–23, she served as the host for a weekly WKTI radio show featuring [Marquette men's basketball](/source/Marquette_Golden_Eagles_men's_basketball) coach [Shaka Smart](/source/Shaka_Smart).[13]

## Personal life

Lada married Dario Melendez, sports director at [WISN-TV](/source/WISN-TV) in Milwaukee, in 2017; a previous marriage ended in divorce. She has three children, two with Melendez. A recreational [endurance athlete](/source/Endurance_athlete), she has run multiple marathons and triathlons.[1][8][14]

## References

1. Greenstein, Teddy (September 26, 2018). ["Jen Lada has found her way into the spotlight at ESPN: 'She is persistent. She's a fighter.'"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-jen-lada-espn-20180926-story.html). *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. ["Young Alumna of the Year Award"](https://alumni.marquette.edu/awards-2022/recipients/comm-lada). *alumni.marquette.edu*. [Marquette University](/source/Marquette_University). 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Foran, Chris (August 17, 2020). ["Sports reporter Jen Lada is joining Mark Chmura and Gabe Neitzel on ESPN Milwaukee radio"](https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2020/08/17/jen-lada-joining-mark-chmura-gabe-neitzel-espn-milwaukee-radio/3385960001/). *[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel](/source/Milwaukee_Journal_Sentinel)*. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Owczarski, Jim (January 30, 2013). ["FOX 6 reporter Jen Lada lands sports job in Chicago"](https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/jenladamkefarewell). *onmilwaukee.com*. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Kabelowsky, Steve (September 28, 2015). ["Former FOX 6 sports reporter Jen Lada launches national ESPN radio show"](https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/jenladaespnradioshow). *onmilwaukee.com*. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Sherman, Ed (June 23, 2015). ["Comcast Sports Net's Jen Lada joining ESPN"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-jen-lada-joining-espn-20150623-story.html). *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. ["ESPN's Jen Lada Aims to Keep Sports in Perspective"](https://www.wuwm.com/arts-culture/2017-04-11/espns-jen-lada-aims-to-keep-sports-in-perspective). [WUWM](/source/WUWM). April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. ["Jen Lada"](https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/jen-lada/). *espnpressroom.com*. [ESPN](/source/ESPN). Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Radcliffe, JR (August 31, 2018). ["Former Milwaukee sportscaster Jen Lada re-ups with ESPN, appears on network's morning show"](https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2018/08/31/former-milwaukee-anchor-jen-lada-re-ups-espn-appears-get-up/1155712002/). *[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel](/source/Milwaukee_Journal_Sentinel)*. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Mita, Molly (August 21, 2018). ["Jen Lada Signs New Deal, Makes Get Up Debut Today"](https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2018/08/jen-lada-signs-new-deal-makes-get-up-debut-today/). *espnfrontrow.com*. [ESPN](/source/ESPN). Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Glover, Emery (August 12, 2020). ["ESPN wins Sports Emmy for 'Hilinski's Hope' documentary"](https://www.wistv.com/2020/08/12/espn-wins-sports-emmy-hilinskis-hope-documentary/). [WIS](/source/WIS_(TV)). Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Kirchen, Rich (August 18, 2020). ["ESPN's Jen Lada returns to Milwaukee media while retaining national gig"](https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/18/espns-jen-lada-returns-tomilwaukee-media.html). *[Milwaukee Business Journal](/source/Milwaukee_Business_Journal)*. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Steele, Ben (November 7, 2022). ["Marquette changing up Shaka Smart's radio show with Jen Lada replacing Steve 'The Homer' True as host"](https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2022/11/07/on-marquette-shaka-smart-radio-show-jen-lada-replaces-steve-homer-true/69625654007/). *[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel](/source/Milwaukee_Journal_Sentinel)*. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. Hladik, Matt (July 9, 2020). ["21 Questions For ESPN Reporter & Host Jen Lada"](https://thespun.com/more/sports-media/21-questions-for-espn-reporter-host-jen-lada). *thespun.com*. Arena Group. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

## External links

- [Jen Lada](https://twitter.com/JenLada) on [Twitter](/source/Twitter)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jen Lada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen_Lada) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen_Lada?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.