MARISA JACQUES OF SPECTRUM NEWS 1 & FORMER SIENA COLLEGE HEAD COACH ALI JAQUES ONBOARD FOR THE PATROONS 2022 SEASON
(Albany, NY - December 6, 2021) – The Albany Patroons have secured two well-known Capital Region based personalities to support the Patroons’ live home game broadcasts from the Armory. Marisa Jacques and Ali Jaques will team up and take to the sidelines to provide play-by-play and analyst/commentary, respectively, when the basketball season starts early March 2022.
Marisa Jacques is a New York State Emmy and Associated Press award winner with more than 20 years of broadcast experience, many of those covering the Albany Patroons while in her role as Sports Director at Spectrum News; a position she held for 10 years. A former collegiate athlete herself, Marisa began her journalism career at NBC Sports while attending Union College. Marisa on joining the team: “I have been following the Patroons for years and it’s truly an honor to work with such an historic organization. I’ve also spent a decade and a half covering Head Coach Will Brown. He’s had so much success…so when he called to ask if I would be a part of the program, it was an absolute yes.” Marisa currently serves as an anchor of nightly newscasts on Spectrum News 1 across NYS.
Ali Jaques has 23 years of Division 1 college basketball coaching experience and spent the last 9 years as Head Coach of the Women’s basketball team at Siena College. Ali is currently working as a basketball analyst for ESPN3, ESPN+, Flosports and Big East college women’s basketball. While with the Saints, Ali boasted a 100% graduation rate for every student-athlete she coached, and she is also a two-time Coach’s Award recipient. Ali Jaques on her new role: “I am so grateful to work for a first-class operation like the Albany Patroons. The Capital Region is in for a treat. Under the leadership and experience of Will Brown and his staff, great success is on the horizon, and I am thrilled for the opportunity to be courtside calling the games!”
GM/Head Coach Will Brown is excited to have Marisa and Ali joining the broadcast team within the Patroons organization. “Marisa is and has been an accomplished and respected member of the local media for years, not only covering the Patroons, but also high school and college sports as well as reporting news. Ali has enjoyed an extensive and successful playing and coaching career. She has recently gained valuable experience on the TV side covering women's college basketball games. She recently worked the UConn/South Carolina game which featured arguably the two best programs in the country. We look forward to working with Marisa and Ali as they are two extremely talented and hard-working individuals. The Patroons fanbase will enjoy listening to them on game nights!”
The Albany Patroons’ season begins early March 2022, with all home games played at the historic Albany Armory. The Patroons play in The Basketball League (www.thebasketballleague.net) which has grown to over 40 teams.