ESPN’s Iantosca coaches Mexico’s women’s tennis entry in 2015 Pan Am Games

When Isabela Iantosca walks with Mexico’s delegation in the 2015 Pan Am Games’ Opening Ceremonies Friday night in Toronto (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, 7:30 p.m. ET), she will have a unique distinction.

Iantosca is not only the coach of Mexico’s women’s tennis team in this year’s Games, the Mexico City native competed for her country in the 1991 Pan Am Games in Havana, Cuba. Iantosca also works for ESPN, which along with ESPN Deportes will provide multiplatform coverage of the athletic competition through July 26.

The senior director of digital marketing for ESPN International, Iantosca has balanced her job duties in the company’s New York City offices with a trek in May to coach the three-woman team in Merida, Mexico.

“I have been able to manage all my responsibilities at ESPN primarily because I have an amazing team and boss,” said Iantosca, who in June marked her 15th-year anniversary at ESPN. “I planned ahead of time before the week I would be at the Pan Am Games to make sure everything was covered and nothing would fall through the cracks.”

The former two-time Pepperdine All-American – and the 2014 USTA National Women’s 40 singles champion – will learn her team’s schedule on Friday. The women’s tennis competition begins Saturday and concludes with medal play Thursday, July 16.

No matter the outcome, Iantosca – who lost to eventual ESPN colleague Pam Shriver in the 1991 Pan Am Games – relishes the chance to represent her native country and ESPN.

In the video above, she talks about the opportunity to participate in the Pan Am Games again and General Manager, ESPN Deportes, Lino Garcia, speaks about the company’s support of Iantosca’s coaching efforts.

Video produced by Jonothon Halley McLeod