Michelle Smallmon is an American sports broadcaster and a cohost of ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike. Her career includes television production, local sports radio, national programming, and live events. Before becoming a familiar voice to listeners across the country, she worked behind the scenes as a producer.
If you listen to her morning show, you may want to know more about the person behind the microphone. Michelle’s story starts in Belleville, Illinois, where her family helped develop her interest in sports. Below, you can read about her age, education, career, family, and financial details.
Michelle Smallmon Biography
Michelle’s career has taken her from the St. Louis area to national radio. She has worked as both a producer and a host. That background gives her experience with preparing a show as well as presenting it.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michelle Smallmon |
| Profession | Sports broadcaster and radio host |
| Hometown | Belleville, Illinois |
| Reported Birthday | August 13, 1986 |
| Reported Age in October 2026 | 40 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Illinois |
| Degree | Broadcast journalism |
| Graduation Year | 2008 |
| Father | Tony Smallmon |
| Mother | Robin Smallmon |
| Current Show | Unsportsmanlike |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Her education, parents’ names, and professional history appear in published interviews and employer information. Her birthday is commonly listed in biography databases, although her official ESPN profile does not include it.
Michelle Smallmon Age in 2026
Michelle Smallmon is reportedly 40 years old as of October 2026. Her commonly listed birthday is August 13, 1986. Based on that date, she turned 40 in August.
A November 2024 interview also described her as 38, which is consistent with that birth year. However, Michelle’s official ESPN biography focuses on her work rather than her birthday. The exact date should therefore be treated as reported information.
Early Life and Family Background
Michelle grew up in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. Her parents, Tony and Robin, encouraged her interest in sports. Family outings included watching the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues.
She learned to keep score at baseball games, giving her another way to follow what happened on the field. Sports became something she could discuss and understand beyond simply supporting a team. Those early experiences later connected with her broadcasting work.
Her family background remains closely linked with the region. Although her career eventually took her elsewhere, St. Louis sports continued to matter to her. She has spoken about missing Cardinals games while living in Connecticut.
Education at the University of Illinois
Michelle attended the University of Illinois and graduated in 2008 with a degree in broadcast journalism. She initially considered becoming a dermatologist before changing direction toward broadcasting.
During college, she looked for practical experience alongside her classes. Her opportunities included Illini Productions, work connected with Monday Night Football, and an internship at KSDK. These experiences helped her explore different parts of media work.
Her move into journalism gave her a way to combine communication with her interest in sports. Internships also introduced her to people who could help her find work after graduation. Those professional connections became useful when she began looking for her first job.
How Did Michelle Start Her Career?
Michelle’s early broadcasting work included a production assistant role at KSDK, the St. Louis television station. She later moved into sports radio, where she began developing the career listeners know today.
Her first jobs were not all about speaking into a microphone. Production work meant helping broadcasts happen behind the scenes. This gave her a starting point before she took on more regular on-air responsibilities.
That route is part of what makes her career interesting. She learned the production side before becoming a national host. Her experience grew through different assignments rather than one immediate move into a major show.
Her Early Work at 101 ESPN
Michelle worked at 101 ESPN in St. Louis before moving to ESPN’s national operation. Her responsibilities included producing shows and contributing on air. Local radio allowed her to work around teams and stories she already followed.
She later returned to the station after her first period at national ESPN Radio. A station announcement described her return to work with Bernie Miklasz and contribute online. It also noted her long connection with St. Louis sports.
For listeners, local sports radio offers a place to discuss the teams they watch every week. Michelle’s background in the area helped her connect with those conversations. Her return brought national production experience back to a familiar audience.
Moving to National ESPN Radio
At ESPN Radio, Michelle worked on programs including Jorge & Jen and the Ryen Russillo Show. These assignments expanded her experience beyond a single local market.
She has also spoken about enjoying her work on Russillo & Kanell. The role included travel to college football and basketball settings. Visiting those venues was one of the parts of sports broadcasting she found especially rewarding.
Her career moved between local and national roles more than once. Each move brought a different audience and different responsibilities. By the time she became a national morning host, she had experience across both settings.
Karraker & Smallmon
Michelle cohosted Karraker & Smallmon with Randy Karraker from May 2020 to September 2022. The morning show became an important part of her career in St. Louis.
With that assignment, she became the first woman to have her name in a show title at 101 ESPN. It marked a clear step from production work into a named hosting role.
She announced her departure in August 2022 to pursue national ESPN opportunities. Explaining the decision, she discussed the difficulty of managing both roles and travel. Her final broadcast with Karraker followed in early September.
Michelle Smallmon on Unsportsmanlike
Michelle now cohosts Unsportsmanlike with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty. The program combines sports discussion with the personalities and experiences of its three hosts. It launched in September 2023.
You can follow the show through its broadcasts and available audio episodes. The format gives the hosts time to discuss major stories rather than only report scores. Their different backgrounds also bring different viewpoints to a conversation.
In a 2025 interview, Cohen described the hosts as teammates whose partnership extended beyond the broadcast. He also discussed the show’s reach through radio affiliates and other platforms. Michelle’s work now reaches listeners well beyond St. Louis.
Work Outside the Radio Studio
Michelle’s experience also includes hosting events and working with sports organizations. She served as an in-game host for the St. Louis Battlehawks and did video work with St. Louis City SC.
Other assignments included live events at Ballpark Village and a college basketball dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club. These roles involved speaking to audiences and interviewing people outside a regular radio show.
Live hosting requires a different pace from studio broadcasting. A presenter must respond to the event while keeping the audience involved. Michelle’s work across these settings adds another part to her professional background.
Family Traditions and Personal Interests
Michelle has shared a family connection through her grandmother’s lasagna recipe. Her grandmother came from Cremona, Italy, and taught Michelle and her cousins how to prepare it.
The recipe became something the family could keep after her grandmother’s death. Michelle said they made it at Christmas. It is one of the personal memories she has discussed beyond her broadcasting career.
She has also spoken about enjoying fashion, beaches, and visiting Italy. These interests give readers a small look at her life outside sports. They come from a past interview rather than a complete account of her routine today.
Michelle Smallmon Net Worth and Salary
Michelle Smallmon’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. There is also no reliable public figure establishing her current ESPN salary. Online estimates should not be presented as her actual earnings.
Her professional work includes radio hosting, production, and event appearances. However, those roles do not reveal her contracts, savings, investments, or expenses. A specific wealth figure would require financial information that is not available publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle is reportedly 40 in October 2026, based on the commonly listed birthday of August 13, 1986.
Where Is Michelle Smallmon From?
She is from Belleville, Illinois, in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Which Show Does She Host?
She cohosts Unsportsmanlike with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty.
Where Did Michelle Go to College?
She attended the University of Illinois and graduated in 2008.
Who Are Michelle Smallmon’s Parents?
Her parents are Tony and Robin Smallmon.
What Is Michelle Smallmon’s Net Worth?
Her exact net worth and salary are not publicly confirmed.
Conclusion
Michelle Smallmon built her broadcasting career through production work, local radio, and national hosting. Her journey includes KSDK, 101 ESPN, and her current role on Unsportsmanlike.
Her family’s interest in sports helped shape the path she later followed. Today, her documented career offers a clearer picture of her success than unconfirmed salary or net worth estimates.
