Longtime ESPN personality John Saunders has died at 61

Veteran ESPN personality John Saunders has passed away at the age of 61. The sad news was first reported by Saunders' colleague Hannah Storm live on SportsCenter early Wednesday morning.

Since joining ESPN in 1986, Saunders was a well-liked and respected fixture at the network for nearly three decades. His duties including reporting in college football, basketball, the NHL, and hosting duties on programs such as SportsCenter and The Sports Reporters. A close friend of the late Jim Valvano, Saunders was also a founding member and served on the board of directors for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

In an official statement from ESPN, President John Skipper commented on Saunders' passing.

“John was an extraordinary talent and his friendly, informative style has been a warm welcome to sports fans for decades. His wide range of accomplishments across numerous sports and championship events is among the most impressive this industry has ever seen. More importantly, John was a beloved and devoted family man who cared deeply about people and causes, as evidenced by his long-standing efforts as a passionate board member for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. He was one of the most significant and influential members of the ESPN family, as a colleague and mentor, and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”

Saunders is survived by wife Wanda and daughters Aleah and Jenna.