Michelle Smallmon is an American sports radio host best known for cohosting ESPN Radio’s national morning show, Unsportsmanlike. She grew up in Belleville, Illinois. Then she built her career one early shift at a time.
Fans search her name for her age, family, husband, and net worth. This guide covers all of it. You’ll get verified facts, clear estimates, and honest notes where details stay private. Let’s start with the basics. Read on for the full Michelle Smallmon biography in plain English.
Who Is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle Smallmon is a sports radio host and producer who cohosts ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike from 6 to 10 a.m. ET. Her bio on the ESPN Press Room confirms that role. She shares the microphone with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty.
Think of her as the friendly voice that greets you before your first coffee. She talks sports, but she also tells jokes and shares her own stories. Listeners hear a fan first and an analyst second. That mix keeps the show light.
Her path wasn’t flashy. She started in television production, then moved into radio. She produced shows before she ever hosted one. Today she broadcasts from New York and reaches fans across the country.
Michelle Smallmon Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Michelle Smallmon |
| Age | 40 (based on a reported birth date of August 13, 1986) |
| Birthplace | Belleville, Illinois |
| Height | Reportedly about 5 feet 6 inches (unconfirmed) |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Spouse | Not publicly disclosed |
| Children | Not publicly disclosed |
| Parents | Tony and Robin |
| Education | University of Illinois, class of 2008 |
| Net worth | Estimated $1 million to $2 million (unconfirmed) |
| Profession | Sports radio host and producer |
| Social handles | X: @msmallmon |
Michelle Smallmon Family and Education
Michelle Smallmon comes from a sports loving family in Belleville, Illinois. Her parents, Tony and Robin, took her to Blues and Cardinals games when she was young. At Busch Stadium she learned how to keep score. That small habit grew into a lifelong passion.
Parents and Hometown
Belleville sits across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Smallmon says she’s Illinois through and through. Even so, she grew up rooting for St. Louis teams. She was a Rams fan as a kid. She felt real heartbreak when the team left town for Los Angeles.
Details about siblings aren’t public. The same goes for extended family. She keeps those parts of her life private, which is a fair choice for a public figure.
Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
She played soccer at Belleville Althoff and earned a reputation as a standout. For college, she chose the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her first plan was to become a dermatologist. A freshman chemistry class in 2004 changed her mind fast. She switched to journalism and focused on broadcasting.
She earned a broadcast journalism degree and graduated in 2008. In college she chased every internship she could find. She worked on Monday Night Football and for Illini Productions. She also landed an internship at KSDK in St. Louis. In her words, she simply did whatever she could.
She also credits one professor, John Paul, for giving her the tools to succeed. Her advice to students sounds simple. Apply for everything. You never know which door opens.
Michelle Smallmon Career
Michelle Smallmon’s sports broadcasting career began in local television and grew through St. Louis radio into a national spot at ESPN. Every step came from saying yes to a new chance.
Career Timeline
| Stage | Role | Where |
| After graduation in 2008 | Part time production assistant | KSDK, St. Louis |
| Early radio years | Weekend show cohost, then producer | ESPN Radio, St. Louis |
| Next | Producer on national shows | ESPN Radio, Bristol, Connecticut |
| Return home | Cohost with Bernie Miklasz | 101 ESPN, St. Louis |
| Around 2020 to 2022 | Cohost of Karraker & Smallmon | 101 ESPN, St. Louis |
| 2022 | Weekend host | ESPN Radio, national network |
| September 2023 to present | Cohost of Unsportsmanlike | ESPN Radio, New York |
The KSDK Years
Graduation landed in a rough year. The economy had just crashed. Media jobs were scarce, even for veterans. Smallmon had planned to move to Chicago. Instead she moved back in with her parents.
She took a part time production assistant job at KSDK. Her shift ran from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. She wrote scripts and ran the teleprompter. After that, she stopped by the sports office. She kept offering help until people noticed. Sports director Frank Cusumano and anchor Rene Knott became her mentors.
From Producer to Host
When ESPN Radio arrived in St. Louis, Knott suggested her for a weekend show. She cohosted a three hour broadcast. A program director liked what he heard. He asked her to produce for local legend Bernie Miklasz. She said yes right away.
Later she spent about three years as a producer at ESPN Radio in Bristol. Then 101 ESPN called with an offer to cohost with Miklasz on The Bernie Miklasz Show. She also hosted Karraker & Smallmon with Randy Karraker. Reports say she became the first woman to have her name on a show at the station.
Case Study: Betting on New York
In 2022 Smallmon left St. Louis for New York with no full time job. She sublet an apartment. She worked at a jewelry store to pay bills. ESPN Radio soon gave her weekend air time.
Then her boss, Justin Craig, offered her a role in morning drive. She first thought he meant the overnight shift. Instead he offered her a national morning show. That bet on herself paid off.
Other Work
She has also worked as a game day host for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL, according to profile reports. She interviewed Illinois player Xavier Scott for a College GameDay podcast too. Those jobs show her range.
How Old Is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle Smallmon is 40 years old in October 2026, based on a reported Michelle Smallmon birth date of August 13, 1986. Several profile sites list that date. ESPN doesn’t publish it on her official bio.
One trusted check helps here. A 2024 News-Gazette profile listed her as 38 that November. That fits a 1986 birth year. Treat the exact day as reported but not officially confirmed.
Her zodiac sign would be Leo if the date is right. That’s a fun detail but nothing more. Her age matters because it shows her pace. She reached a national morning show in her late thirties. That’s proof it’s never too late for a big break.
Michelle Smallmon Net Worth
Michelle Smallmon’s net worth is estimated at $1 million to $2 million, according to several biography sites. Nobody has confirmed that figure. ESPN doesn’t share pay data. She hasn’t discussed it in public.
Treat the range as a rough guess. Sites often build such numbers from job titles and typical industry pay. They don’t see her contract, her savings, or her taxes.
Her likely income sources include:
- Her ESPN Radio hosting work
- Past producer and host roles at 101 ESPN
- Game day hosting and podcast appearances
- Possible brand or event appearances (not confirmed)
For comparison, national sports radio hosts can earn very different amounts. Pay depends on ratings, contracts, and years of experience. Without a public statement, any single number stays a guess.
Michelle Smallmon Salary
Michelle Smallmon’s salary is not publicly disclosed. ESPN keeps contract details private. Some websites claim she earns around $100,000 per year. No reliable source backs that up. Read it as a loose estimate.
A national morning host role usually pays more than a local producer role. She has held both. So her earnings likely grew over time. Still, that’s an educated guess rather than a fact.
If you want pay data for radio jobs, check the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It lists wage ranges for broadcast announcers and radio hosts. Those numbers give you context without guessing about one person.
Michelle Smallmon Wikipedia
Many readers search “Michelle Smallmon Wikipedia” hoping for a quick profile. A standalone page isn’t something you should count on. Pages for broadcasters can change or disappear. Edits also shift facts without warning.
Better sources exist. The ESPN Press Room carries her official bio. It confirms her role on Unsportsmanlike and her return to the national network in 2022. The University of Illinois alumni profile from the News-Gazette gives deeper career detail. Front Office Sports also ran a strong feature on her move to New York.
Here’s a simple rule. Trust sources that interview her or come from her employer. Be careful with sites that copy each other. Many copycat pages repeat the same unverified numbers.
Michelle Smallmon Spouse
Michelle Smallmon’s husband or spouse is not publicly disclosed. She hasn’t named a partner in interviews or her official bio. Her relationship status also stays private.
Some websites claim she’s married. Others say she’s single. None of them cite a reliable source. Without her own statement, the safe answer is simple. We don’t know.
That privacy fits her style. She shares sports opinions, travel stories, and funny moments on air. Her personal life stays mostly off the mic. Fans should respect that line. It protects her family and her peace.
If she shares news later, it will likely appear on her own channels first. Watch there instead of relying on rumor sites.
Michelle Smallmon Social Media
Michelle Smallmon’s best known official handle is @msmallmon on X. The University of Illinois alumni profile links to it. ESPN Radio also promotes her through the network’s accounts and show pages.
What can you expect there? Show clips, game reactions, and behind the scenes jokes. She often posts about Halloween costumes, road trips, and her team of choice. Her tone stays upbeat.
Be careful with lookalike accounts. Fan pages and fake profiles pop up for many public figures. Check for a verified badge. Also look for links from ESPN pages. If an account asks for money or personal data, skip it.
You can also hear her live. Unsportsmanlike airs on the ESPN Radio network, on local affiliates, and through ESPN’s app. Check your local station for exact times.
Michelle Smallmon Fun Facts
Every host has a few stories that fans love. Here are some of hers.
- She wanted to be a dermatologist. One chemistry class ended that plan.
- She dressed as an alligator. On Halloween 2024 the hosts played Happy Gilmore characters. She wore the gator costume.
- She ran an NFL Bachelorette. In 2024 she picked a new favorite team on air. The Jets, Bears, and Packers made the final three.
- She chose the Packers. A vintage shirt reading “Cheese and Football” tipped the scales. She later visited Lambeau Field.
- She worked at a jewelry store. That was her side job while she waited for her big break.
- She reportedly wore a black eye on air. Reports say it happened around the show’s launch. She joked about it. Details come from secondhand sources, so treat it as lighthearted lore.
She also never competed on the actual reality show The Bachelorette. That segment was a joke on her radio show.
Michelle Smallmon Hobbies
Michelle Smallmon’s main hobby is being a sports fan. She started at Busch Stadium with a scorecard in hand. She still follows baseball closely. She even gave serious post game analysis after the 2024 World Series while dressed as an alligator.
- Soccer. She played it in high school.
- College football. She attended Illinois games as a student. She also returned for a College GameDay podcast.
- Travel to games. Her trip to Lambeau Field is a good example.
- City life. She says she loves living in New York.
- Thrift shopping. Her Packers shirt came from a vintage store.
Hobbies like these keep her connected to fans. She isn’t just talking about sports. She lives them.
Rise to Fame
Michelle Smallmon’s rise to fame came from steady effort rather than one viral moment. She built trust in St. Louis first. Then ESPN noticed.
Here’s how the climb looked:
- She earned a journalism degree in 2008.
- She took an early morning job at KSDK.
- She produced radio shows, including one for Bernie Miklasz.
- She worked as a producer in Bristol, then returned to host in St. Louis.
- She moved to New York and picked up weekend shifts.
- She joined a new national morning show in September 2023.
Morning radio matters at ESPN. Front Office Sports notes that morning drive has long been the network’s cornerstone, going back to the Mike & Mike era. Landing a seat there is a big deal.
The show sells a simple idea. It wants to bring fun to the early hours. Smallmon says listeners are busy getting ready for work or sending kids to school. If they tune in, she wants them to enjoy the company.
Future Plans and Goals
Michelle Smallmon hasn’t announced any plans to leave Unsportsmanlike. ESPN’s own bio still lists her as a cohost. So her main goal appears to be growing the show.
Some likely paths exist, though they are guesses:
- More digital content, such as podcasts and video clips
- Event hosting and sports specials
- Guest spots on other ESPN programs
She has also talked about loving her new city. She calls New York a dream she chased. That suggests she plans to stay put for a while.
Her story hints at one more goal. She wants to keep the show fun. In her view, radio should feel like hanging out with friends.
Michelle Smallmon vs Other Personalities
Smallmon’s closest comparison is her own show team. Each host took a different road to the same studio.
| Host | Background | Path to the Show |
| Michelle Smallmon | Journalism graduate and producer | Local TV, St. Louis radio, then national host |
| Evan Cohen | Student radio at Wisconsin, internships with ABC, NBC Sports, WFAN, and MSG Radio | Local ESPN Radio in Madison, then national |
| Chris Canty | Former NFL defensive lineman | Football career, then media |
Smallmon stands out for her producer roots. She understands how a show gets built. She learned timing, booking, and scripting before she took the mic. That edge helps in a four hour live broadcast.
Compared with former athletes, she doesn’t offer locker room stories. Instead she offers a fan’s view and a worker’s view. Many listeners relate to that. It makes her the everyday voice on a show filled with big personalities.
Michelle Smallmon Fast Facts
- She is an American sports radio host and producer.
- She cohosts ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty.
- The show debuted on September 5, 2023.
- She was born in Belleville, Illinois, and reportedly on August 13, 1986.
- She graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008.
- Her first plan was to become a dermatologist.
- She started as a production assistant at KSDK.
- She produced shows for Bernie Miklasz before hosting.
- She cohosted Karraker & Smallmon on 101 ESPN.
- Her net worth is estimated at $1 million to $2 million, though unconfirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Michelle Smallmon?
She is an ESPN Radio host who cohosts Unsportsmanlike on weekday mornings. She also has a long history as a producer.
How old is Michelle Smallmon?
She is 40 in 2026, based on a reported birth date of August 13, 1986. ESPN hasn’t confirmed the date.
Who is Michelle Smallmon’s husband?
Her husband or spouse is not publicly disclosed. She keeps her personal life private.
What is Michelle Smallmon’s net worth?
Sites estimate $1 million to $2 million. That figure is unconfirmed.
What is Michelle Smallmon’s salary?
Her salary is not publicly disclosed. Some sites guess about $100,000 per year, but that is only an estimate.
Where did Michelle Smallmon go to college?
She attended the University of Illinois and graduated in 2008. She studied journalism with a focus on broadcasting.
Who are her Unsportsmanlike cohosts?
Evan Cohen and Chris Canty join her on the show.
Where is Michelle Smallmon from?
She is from Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. She now lives in New York.
Conclusion
Michelle Smallmon built her place in sports media through hustle, not hype. She went from a part time production assistant in St. Louis to a national morning host in New York. Her age, education, and career path are well documented.
Her husband, salary, and exact net worth stay private or unconfirmed. Still, her story teaches a simple lesson. Say yes to chances. Stay curious. Keep showing up. Tune in to Unsportsmanlike to hear her voice for yourself.
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