DeLuca leaves after 14 years

Longtime ESPN programming executive Len DeLuca has left the company after 14 years.

DeLuca, ESPN’s senior vice president of programming and acquisitions, said he decided to leave the network to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.

“I couldn’t pursue these opportunities and do my job at ESPN,” DeLuca said. “It was the right time for me to make the jump and go.”

DeLuca said he had been thinking about leaving ESPN since the summer and had several conversations with his boss, John Wildhack, executive vice president of programming and acquisitions, about it since then.

“I’m thirsty for new challenges,” DeLuca said.

DeLuca oversaw tennis on ESPN and ABC. He had been with ESPN since 1996 and worked with CBS Sports from 1980 to 1996.