If you have watched any US Soccer matches, then you have probably seen and heard JP Dellacamera. With a career spanning over 40 years, JP has been there to watch and contribute to the growth of soccer in the US. He is “the only person in the sport to cover matches for all four major U.S. networks with broadcast positions for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC”1 and called some of the most memorable moments in the beautiful game.
Dellacamera was there in 1989 to announce the “Shot Heard Round the World” when the U.S. Men’s National Team qualified for its first World Cup in 40 years. He was behind the microphone at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final as Brandi Chastain’s penalty kick gave the USWNT their 2nd World Cup trophy.2 He has announced 17 FIFA World Cups (10 men’s/seven women’s) on TV & radio, and three Olympic Tournaments from 2004-2012.3
The story of how Dellacamera came to be known as the original voice of U.S. Soccer goes back to multi-sport announcer Curt Gowdy, who Dellacamera listened to during his childhood in Waltham, Massachusetts. That inspired JP to pursue a career in sports broadcasting with the goal of being an announcer who can call more than one sport.
A devoted Boston Bruin’s fan, Dellacamera began his career calling hockey with the ultimate goal of announcing for the NHL. He was working for a minor-league hockey team in Erie, Pennsylvania and was asked to audition for an indoor soccer team, the Pittsburgh Spirit. Seeing the potential for growth in soccer and the limited opportunities at that time in the NHL, Dellacamera pursued a new career path with indoor soccer.
Initially that’s what I wanted to be was a hockey announcer. I was doing minor-league hockey and got a break doing indoor soccer. Indoor soccer led to outdoor soccer. Even though I’ve done other things since – I’ve done basketball and hockey with the Thrashers – my career has really been 80 percent soccer and now it’s pretty much 100 percent soccer.4
Currently working for Fox Sports as a play-by-play announcer for the network’s premier soccer portfolio, and the lead play-by-play voice for the last 3 FIFA Women’s World Cups, Dellacamera’s career accomplishments are impressive:
According to Fox Sports, “Beyond his soccer highlights, Dellacamera has called hockey for NHL Network and ESPN. He was the local TV voice of the Atlanta Thrashers for five seasons, and a fill-in play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes on FOX Sports Regional Networks. For six years he also covered NBA and college basketball games for ESPN and other various networks. He has been the TV voice of the University of Kansas and Creighton University, in addition to calling games in the Atlantic 10 and the Missouri Valley Conference.”
The legendary broadcaster has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards with the most recent being the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award from the United Soccer Coaches in 2022. Prior to that, he received the honor of being inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame as the recipient of the 2018 Colin Jose Media Award and was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2019. United Soccer Coaches recognized Dellacamera’s contributions to soccer in the US by giving him the Presidential Recognition Award in 2018 and also naming him a United Soccer Coaches Honorary All-American in 2009.
In addition to his busy schedule calling soccer for Fox News, Dellacamera currently serves as the President of Communications/Media for the Major Arena Soccer League. He has had a long, impressive career and isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon.
I’m not a person who has hobbies. That’s why, whenever anyone asks how long I want to do this, I always say, ‘For as long as I can. ‘ Because this is what I enjoy.5
We are thrilled to have JP Dellacamera join us at Lancaster Inferno’s first ever Kicking It Forward Gala on February 1st where he will be sharing a short perspective on women’s soccer in the US along with fellow guest, Carrie Taylor. This is an amazing opportunity to meet two people who have witnessed and been part of the growth of soccer in the US.
Read more about the Gala and how you can get tickets at https://lancasterinferno.com/kicking-it-forward-gala.
Sources:
1Philadelphia Union Staff, “JP Dellacamera to be Honored with the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award”. Philadelphia Union News, https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/jp-dellacamera-honored-with-clay-berling-media-career-excellence-award. 21 Oct 2022.
2Masur, Andy, “Anatomy of a Broadcaster: JP Dellacamera”. Barrett Media, https://barrettmedia.com/2023/08/03/aoab-jp-dellacamera/. 3 Aug 2023.
3 Fox News Staff, “JP Dellacamera Bio”. Fox News, https://www.foxsports.com/personalities/jp-dellacamera/bio.
4Arnold, Jon, “Legendary American broadcaster JP Dellacamera gets his moment after staying in background for decades”. GOAL, https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/legendary-american-broadcaster-jp-dellacamera-gets-his-moment-after-staying-in-background-for-decades/4qhn702tiuvt18dme4gdkrrb1. 19 Oct 2018.
5Zeitlin, Dave, “JP Dellacamera, the understated voice of American soccer, heads to his ninth World Cup”. New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/391185/2018/06/13/jp-dellacamera-the-understated-voice-of-american-soccer-heads-to-his-ninth-world-cup/. 13 Jun 2018.