Scott Monserud, former sports editor of the Denver Post, has died at the age of 69

Scott Monserud, who built the Denver Post’s sports section into one of the most respected in the country, died Monday at the age of 69.

Monserud worked at The Post for 22 years until his retirement in June 2023, including 17 years as sports editor. He died, according to his family, after a nine-year battle with prostate cancer.

“Scott became the editor of one of the best sports departments and sections in the country. But as I try to come to terms with this loss, I don’t remember it,” said Post editor Lee Ann Colacioppo.

“I think about how his appearance at my office door made me smile. I think about how even though he was sick these last few months, he never failed to visit me and my family and ask how we were doing.”

Under Monserud, The Post’s sports section was considered one of the best in a evolving industry, receiving annual awards for everything from breaking news to award-winning design and column writing.

The post office received the “Triple Crown” decorations. — Top 10 in daily, Sunday and special sections — three times during his tenure in the annual Associated Press Sports Editors competition (2010, 2011 and 2014). Between 2001 and 2023, APSE recognized The Post’s Sunday section as one of the top 10 participating newspapers 12 times. The Post has been ranked in the top 10 in daily sections five times and in the top 10 in special sections five times.

Greg Moore, the Post’s editor from 2002 to 2016, described Monserud as a “truly dedicated, hard-working employee” whose “intent was to elevate sports reporting to an art form and elevate it to the level of respect that the news site commanded.”

“He really got into it, (almost) showed that it’s not just about discussing the game and the results. He loved and lived for breaking news.”

Originally from Monona, Iowa, and an Iowa State graduate, Monserud’s more than two decades at The Post capped a 44-year career in journalism.

Current Post sports editor Matt Schubert, who worked as Monserud’s deputy for four years, said what he will remember most about his former boss is how much he cared about the lives and work of those around him.

“Scott’s impact on sports journalism has transcended the awards and recognition he has received from his peers,” Schubert said. “He was a mentor and confidant of many journalists who came into his orbit. He listened. He was empathetic. He built careers. For me and many others who worked with him, he was a role model for doing his job well.”

Monserud’s tenure in Denver coincided with one of the most prolific periods in Front Range sports history, as he helped lead The Post’s coverage of two Broncos Super Bowl games, including their Super Bowl 50 victory in February 2016; first-ever NBA Championship for the Nuggets (2023); the Avalanche winning the 2022 Stanley Cup; and first-ever playoff berths for the Rockies (2017, ’18).

“He (was) a consummate sportswriter,” said Colorado Public Radio editor-in-chief Kevin Dale, a former Post No. editor. 2, who worked with Monserud at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and eventually hired him at The Post. “He may be the best story editor I have ever seen. He simply had a knack for working with reporters and getting the best out of them without taking away their voice.

Monserud was known among his peers for his writing, editing, leadership, listening and team building skills, while always listening to the questions and topics that were on the minds of Denver fans. As a sports editor, he employed and mentored dozens of award-winning journalists.

“Scott was a quiet and taciturn man, but he saw so much and was incredibly insightful. “I can’t tell you how many of my stories he has structured, tweaked and improved,” said longtime Post sports writer Patrick Saunders. “He was also a difficult boss. He was demanding, but no one worked harder than Scott. And he was a good friend – very nice and with a great sense of humor. Damn, I’m going to miss him.”

“Scott has provided a steady hand to The Post’s sports department as we weather the ups and downs of the newspaper industry,” said Post deputy sports editor Lori Punko. “He always inspired his employees to do more, even when we saw our resources dwindle. I always appreciated the freedom he gave me to be creative and do my job well. We will miss his leadership, friendship and sense of humor.”

Monserud’s award-winning sections were marked by stories and honest narratives from across the Front Range, from preps to pros. Although his personal triumphs would prove equally fascinating, especially over the last decade.

In August 2015, Monserud was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic prostate cancer, which doctors said had spread to his skeletal system and lymph nodes. He was preparing to fight.

“The sorry game was over,” Monserud wrote in a series detailing his journey published by The Post in 2017. “In sports parlance, the game continued.”