Howie Schwab – Beloved ESPN Researcher, Producer, and Trivia Star – Dies at 63

Howie Schwab, a longtime researcher and producer for ESPN who parlayed his love of trivia and statistics into an on-air role on the game show “Stump the Schwab,” died on Saturday in Aventura, FL. He was 63. His death was announced on social media by his wife, Suzie Davie-Schwab.

Schwab had been at ESPN for 17 years in behind-the-scenes roles as a researcher and producer when he was tapped in 2004 to star in his own show, according to the New York Times. On “Stump the Schwab,” three challengers vied to outdo Mr. Schwab in answering questions posed by the host, Stuart Scott, in the opening rounds. In the final round — called the Schwab Showdown — the best of the three went head to head against him for a $25,000 grand prize. Schwab rarely lost.

As ESPN’s first staff researcher and then as the manager of its research department, Schwab contributed to various programs, including “SportsCenter” and “College GameDay,” and worked with individual sportscasters. ESPN first hired him in 1987 as a freelance researcher, promoted him to staff researcher the next year, and put him in charge of its growing research department in 1991. Four years later, he was named coordinating producer of espn.com. He moved up to coordinating producer of studio production in 1998.

CLICK HERE for more on Schwab’s life, career, and legacy.