Shawn Oleksiak has spent the last 18 years in a career involving one of his childhood passions, Philadelphia sports television. As the senior director of broadcasting for the 76ers, he currently oversees all aspects of the team’s radio and television production. His career began in 1986 as a Temple University studio intern at Prism Television in Philadelphia. Upon his cum laude graduation from Temple University in 1987, Oleksiak quickly gathered experience in both broadcast and cable television. Working simultaneously for Prism, Philadelphia Park, and WCAU-TV (CBS), he worked on studio shows and events covering horse racing, men’s and women’s college basketball, boxing, college football, as well as the Phillies, Flyers, and Sixers. He also produced Sunday Night Sport’s Final in addition to Eagles Warm-up and Wrap-up shows.
Oleksiak’s biggest break came in 1994 when he was named the full-time producer of 76ers Basketball at Prism. In 1997, he moved to Comcast SportsNet where he continued Sixers production and also worked as a producer on Daily News Live. In 1999, he was hired by the 76ers as the team’s director of television broadcasting. In 2003, he was promoted to senior director of broadcasting and his duties expanded to include radio.
Oleksiak’s television credits span the medium: intern, editor, cameraman, studio producer, event producer, reporter, and executive producer. During his career, he has received 18 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Nominations and captured five Emmy Awards. Oleksiak also serves on the NBA’s Broadcast Advisory Committee and was instrumental in the design and implementation of the league’s use of the television replay rule.
A native of Northeast Philadelphia, Oleksiak currently resides in Brigantine, N.J. with his wife Jeanine, and three children; Madeline, 7, Matthew, 5, and Lauren, 4.