ESPN suffered a tragedy Tuesday with the sudden passing of one of its young reporters.
ESPN college football reporter Ed Aschoff died Tuesday at age 34, the company announced. He had been ill since last month with what was initially diagnosed as pneumonia, but by the time of his passing had begun receiving treatment for an immune disorder, according to his fiancee.
In addition to being Christmas Eve, Tuesday was his birthday.
Aschoff joined ESPN as a writer for its SEC blog network in 2011 and in the past three years had taken on a greater role that included television hits and sideline reporting. He reported from last month’s Ohio State-Michigan game for SportsCenter and was initially slated to be part of the radio team for last Saturday’s Boca Raton Bowl.
He was also a feature reporter, most recently chronicling the relationship between LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire and his father and stepfather in a piece that aired on SEC Network’s SEC Nation.
Prior to joining ESPN, he worked for The Gainesville Sun from 2007-11, starting there while he was still attending the University of Florida.
Aschoff was engaged to be married in April.
