Michelle Smallmon: The Rising Star of Sports Broadcasting

Michelle Smallmon made her mark on the tough-as-nails arena of sports journalism with her biting one-liners and charming presence on ESPN Radio. As one of the hosts of Unsportsmanlike, ESPN Radio’s number-one-rated morning program, she has sports fans enthralled with her compelling conversation and deep understanding of the industry. From a sports fan in a small town to a renowned media personality, her life is a reflection of how much she is passionate, determined, and strong. Michelle found it difficult to thrive in the media world.

She is a graduate of broadcast journalism and comes from Belleville, Illinois, where she developed her passion for sports. She has built an incredible career over the years, beginning in the background of production and progressing to becoming one of the best in sports radio. Her journey is one of hard work, talent, and a fierce dedication to providing top-notch sports material to listeners all across the nation.

Quick Bio

Who Is Michelle Smallmon?

The American producer, radio host, and sportscaster Michelle Smallmon is renowned for being one of the hosts of Unsportsmanlike, ESPN Radio’s flagship morning drive show that is broadcast from 6 to 10 a.m. ET. She is popular among her fans since she can effectively offer commentary on sports while having a light and warm rapport with her listeners.

Michelle has worked in a variety of different occupations within the media sector prior to joining ESPN Radio.
She began as a producer and eventually became hosts of successful sports shows. She has even done podcasts, in-game presentations, and live events, demonstrating just how much flexibility and versatility there is to her. With more and more influence on the sports media, Michelle is still a force to be reckoned with on how sports viewers are consuming content.

Early Life

Michelle Smallmon was born on August 13, 1986, in Belleville, Illinois. Belleville is a close-knit community with a strong sporting and family background. Michelle came from a supportive family and had a natural interest in sports, something that heavily influenced the way she chose to pursue her career. Her parents, Tony and Robin Smallmon, were supportive early on by letting her do what she wanted to do.

Her dad, Tony, was a real estate broker, and they both taught her the value of hard work and determination. Michelle loved the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues as a child. They were two teams that made her love sports even more. She played a lot of sports herself, which provided her with an even greater understanding of competition in sports. Because she loved what she was doing, she went to the University of Illinois to study broadcast journalism.

She earned her degree in 2008. She was on the women’s volleyball team and did media-related work while in college.
These endeavors instilled in her the discipline and teamwork capabilities she would need for a career in broadcasting.

Career Beginnings

The path to ESPN Radio Michelle jumped into a broadcasting career the second she graduated from school. Her first job came in 2008 as an assistant news production assistant at KSDK, the St. Louis, Missouri-based local news affiliate. Through her job, she learned about both the technical and editorial sides of broadcasting working in the background. While she enjoyed sports, this initial experience in journalism provided her with a glimpse how the media work in general.

Michelle started as a producer at St. Louis sports radio station 101 ESPN in 2009. Her work ethic and talent were not overlooked, and soon she transitioned to become a broadcast personality. She continued to grow over the next few years by writing local and national sports news and being recognized as one who presented nice things and insightful analysis.

She got her break in 2014 when ESPN Radio hired her as a production assistant. One of the career highs she reached was to be working in one of the global top-ranked sports networks. In 2016, she had progressed so far and had begun hosting co-Weekend shows, thereby further propelling her into industry stardom. She put in the work and did not let up until she landed a permanent position with ESPN Radio, eventually becoming a morning drive-time co-host.

What’s Michelle Smallmon Doing Now?

Michelle Smallmon is doing well as of 2025 as a co-host on ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike. The morning drive-time slot is a very competitive spot where she is able to share her unique thoughts, humor, and sport acumen with people all over the country. Her stage is shared with other established hosts, and they all talk about the biggest sport news in very detailed discussion. Michelle is a common name in radio and podcasts. She is a top personality in sport media because she has the ability to connect with people and provide them with interesting content.

Michelle keeps growing her influence and base, regardless of whether she is talking about hot topics, interviewing athletes for an interview, or analyzing huge sporting events. People who wish to become broadcasters can take a page or two from her book. It shows that hard work and dedication can be rewarded in a very competitive field.

Michelle Smallmon’s Physical Appearance

Michelle Smallmon is a perfect sports media personality because she is firm but friendly. She stands about 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall and has a perfect weight of about 130 pounds (59 kg). She is a superstar in the majority of media outlets because of her perfect appearance, which has brown hair and stunning black eyes.

Michelle is best known for her voice and her critical analysis, but she is also fun to watch on TV. Whether hosting a live sport or giving interviews, or finding herself on ESPN’s online programming, she is always composed. Her professional and approachable style has gained her favor among sports fans as a favorite.

Net Worth

The profitable career Michelle Smallmon has built in sports broadcasting has hugely contributed to her wealth. Her net worth is between $1 million and $2 million as of 2025. She earns most of her money from being a host on ESPN Radio, which pays her about $100,000 each year.

Michelle makes a lot of money from ESPN, but she also makes money from endorsements, sponsorships, and public speaking engagements. She has even created sports-related business enterprises, had podcasts, and made guest appearances, which have made her more money.

Social Media

Michelle Smallmon is never idle on social media, especially on Instagram, where she interacts with her followers by posting interesting things. She has a popular Instagram page, @msmallmon, that has numerous followers, which means how much in demand she is becoming among sporting fans.

Michelle posts personal stories, behind-the-scenes information from her radio show, and information about her life away from work on her social media sites. Because she is communicating with fans in a genuine way and her content can be connected to, she is one of the more relatable sports media personalities.

Future Prospects And Vision

Michelle Smallmon also has a bright future in the arena of sport media with her long years of experience and growing power. She is already recognized as a veteran broadcaster, but throughout the next few years she can try her hand at so many things.

Another thing she can do is become a TV sports commentator, where she can share knowledge with even larger numbers of people. She can also establish herself further as a podcaster by starting her own projects or teaming with other well-known media figures. She can also consider taking up sports writing, where she can write substantial articles or freelance for leading sport magazines.

Michelle Smallmon will continue to be a central figure in the world of sports media based on her passion, knowledge, and charisma no matter where her career takes her.