The Host

J.P. Marks

J.P. Marks brings twenty-eight years of sports journalism experience to The Leaderboard; he has served as the show’s host and executive producer since 2007, both during and following an eight-year stint as a producer at Golf Channel.

J.P. was recognized by the Florida Press Association for “Best Sports Story” in 2003 & 2004 while working as a freelance writer in Central Florida. He also authored “View From the Sideline,” a popular and widely read sports column that was nominated for “Best Sports Column” by the Florida Press Association in 2005.

In 1998, while an on-air reporter / anchor at News 12 New Jersey, he was honored with an Associated Press Award for his work on “Jersey Sports Final,” a half-hour sports wrap show that aired Sunday nights in more than 3 million homes.

In 1996, J.P. capped off a three-year run as the radio play-by-play voice for Monmouth University (N.J.) with the call of the Hawks’ first appearance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Providence, Rhode Island. While the Hawks lost to Marquette in the opening round, J.P. still relishes the experience of having realized a lifelong dream that night at the Providence Civic Center.

After 5 years of covering the New York Yankees, New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils, as well as Big East and Ivy League athletics for News 12, J.P. moved to Central Florida and began working as a journalist in the golf industry.

A career 12-handicapper who has had a malignant and evil slice following him around for decades, there’s still nothing he would rather do than play golf. And if he isn’t doing that, he can be found talking about golf on The Leaderboard.

J.P. is a graduate of Clemson University and Pace University School of Law (N.Y.), where he began his broadcast career in 1989 as the play-by-play voice of Pace Setters Baseball.