After Internship with ESPN, Iona’s Robert Basel ’26 is Living Out His Dream as a Sports Broadcaster
“An internship at ESPN has truly catapulted my career, giving me hands-on experience that is opening so many doors.”
Growing up in Mineola, N.Y., Robert Basel ’26 developed a strong passion for soccer that shaped his life both on and off the field. Whether it was playing for his high school team, refereeing games on the weekends, or late nights spent playing the latest version of the EA Sports FIFA video game, Basel was dedicated to immersing himself in every facet of the sport.
As a young teenager, Basel attended the Bruce Beck Sports Broadcasting Camp, where he met Professor Giuseppe D’Aloisio, who immediately recognized his potential. Years later, they reconnected at Iona’s Accepted Students Day when Basel was a high school senior. D’Aloisio encouraged him to join Iona’s tight-knit community, highlighting the opportunity to gain internship experience and be part of something greater.
Once he enrolled at Iona, he confidently declared his major in Media and Strategic Communication with a dream to one day become a professional soccer broadcaster.
“Looking back, I’m so glad I chose Iona. The connections I’ve made here have been invaluable. The internships and relationships I’ve formed have opened doors I never thought possible, and I wouldn’t change my decision for anything,” he said.
These relationships paved the way for him to gain internship experience as a production assistant with ESPN. Now, he is also a broadcaster on ESPN+, commentating on sports like men's and women's soccer, lacrosse and softball. During his first year, he worked with equipment and cameras, but in his second year, his role expanded significantly. He took on the added role of setting up the production truck and even training new interns. Basel said this experience got him one step closer to his dream.
“An internship at ESPN has truly catapulted my career, giving me hands-on experience that is opening so many doors. I owe so much of my growth to Garrett Murray and Brian Beyrer, who took the time to teach me and guide me every step of the way.”
This summer, the Iona junior will work with the USL W League, a semi-professional women’s soccer league, and USL League Two, the top semi-professional men’s league in the United States, as a lead broadcaster for Morris Elite Soccer Club.
“I love what I’m doing right now, and every opportunity brings me closer to my dream,” he said. “I’m excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to continue growing in this field, knowing that every step is bringing me closer to the goal.”
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.