Sources Say ESPN Director of News Vince Doria is Retiring, He Says No Decision Yet [UPDATE]

Vince Doria, the journalism titan who is the Senior Vice President and Director of News at ESPN, is leaving the network in February and retiring, three sources tell The Big Lead. Doria, a veteran of the Boston Globe and Philadelphia Inquirer, now oversees Sportscenter, Outside the Lines, and E:60.

Doria, who is on vacation this week, told The Big Lead through a spokesperson last week, “I haven’t decided my future plans, I always consider all the options.”

After a career in newspapers, Doria joined ESPN in 1992 and many in Bristol consider him one of the most respected and valuable executives at the network. Sources say that Doria, who is in his mid-60s, is retiring, and not leaving for a rival network. It is far too early to speculate about whether ESPN might go with an internal candidate to replace Doria, or whether President John Skipper would bring in an outside candidate.

[UPDATE: ESPN announced that Doria will be retiring in early 2015. Sounds like he’ll have a ‘victory lap’ in 2014.]

Related: Jason Whitlock Has Left Fox Sports to Return to ESPN
Related: Michael Wilbon’s Role on NBA Countdown to be Diminished, Replaced on Set by Former Coach
Related: ESPN Executives George Bodenheimer and John Walsh Staying at the Network Through Mid-2014

[Photo via ESPN Front Row]