The five-time Sports Emmy Award winner, Michele Tafoya came into the media industry upon her graduation. She struggled 30 years for the sports media as a reporter and host. Thus, she can reach this position at present. During her career, she has featured in different sports news channels like CBS Sports, ABC Sports, and ESPN, KQRS Radio, and more. Today, people know her because of her active involvement and charismatic performance. That's why she was honored with several awards and accomplishments which are mentioned below. Lets, explore more about her through this article.
Early Life
Michele Tafoya was born under the birth sign of Sagittarius to her parents in 1964. She always celebrates her birthday on May 17 of every year. Her birthplace is Manhattan Beach, California, United States. Her parents are Orlando Tafoya and Wilma Conley Tafoya. However, her parents' professional details are yet to be disclosed. It seems she is the only child of her parents as her parents thought she would be born a boy and had planned the name Michael John for her. Similarly, she holds American nationality and belongs to the White ethnicity.
Concerning her academic qualification, she schooled at Mira Costa High School. She then went to Berkeley for her higher studies and joined the University of California where she got a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications in 1988. Later, she enrolled at the University of Southern California where she got a master's degree in business administration in 1991.
Personal Life
Michele Tafoya was happily married to her long-term boyfriend named Mark Vandersall. Her husband is a Financial Adviser by profession. The couple first met in 1993 while she worked as a host and reporter at the Minnesota radio station KFAN AM. With a flow of time, They came nearer and fall in love. After seven years of dating, the couple exchanged their wedding vows on May 13, 2000. The couple then blessed a son named Tyler Vandersall after five years of their marriage. They also adopted a baby girl in 2007. Later, they named her Olivia Vandersall. Currently, the couple lives a blissful life with their children without any disturbance in Edina Minnesota.
Further, she once revealed that she lost four babies due to miscarriage. She also told WCCO-TV that she had been struggling with an eating disorder since she was a child.
Net Worth
Michele Tafoya had worked in the sports broadcasting world for a long time. She is a sportscaster by profession. Thus, she might have a good remuneration too. As per the online sites, her estimated net worth is said to be $2 million and she earned a salary somewhere around $200K annually from her broadcasting career. Further, her other financial details are yet to be disclosed.
Body Measurements
Michele Tafoya has a slim body build with a body measurement of 35-25-35 inches. She used to wear a 40B (US) bra cup size. Similarly, she has beautiful dark brown eyes, and she dyed her hair color in dark brown. She reaches 5 feet 9 inches in height, and her weight is around 62 Kg. Further, her other body information is yet to be public.
Career Timeline
- 1998: Winter Olympics Late-Night Host
- 1994-97 & 1999: NCAA on CBS Sideline Reporter
- 1998: NFL on CBS Sideline Reporter
- 2000-03: ESPN College Football sideline reporter
- 2002-03: Monday Night Countdown reporter
- 2004-10: Monday Night Football Sideline Reporter
- 2002-08: NBA on ABC and NBA on ESPN Sideline Reporter
- 2009-12: WCCO Radio Afternoon Drive Host
- 2011-Present: NBC Sunday Night Football Sideline Reporter
- 2016-20: KQRS Morning Show Co-host
Awards and Achievements
- 1996: She became the first woman to call television play-by-play of an NCAA tournament game on CBS.
- 1997: She was honored with the Gracie Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement by An Individual On-Air TV Personality’ or her play-by-play calling of WNBA games on Lifetime Television.
- 2006: 2006, The Davie-Brown Index ranked her among the most likable TV sports personalities, including Biggest Trend-Sette.
- 2011, 2013, 2018-19, and 2021: She has won the Sports Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Sports Personality' five times to date. She also made history to have been nominated eleven times.
