Michelle Smallmon is an American sports radio host who co-hosts ESPN Radio’s national morning show, Unsportsmanlike, with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty. She is 40 years old, a Belleville, Illinois native, and a University of Illinois graduate. Her path to the national stage ran through a part-time TV job, a St. Louis radio producer chair, and a risky move to New York City.
This guide pulls from ESPN’s own press bio, a University of Illinois alumni profile in The News-Gazette, and sports media reporting. Where a detail is not publicly confirmed, such as her spouse or her exact net worth, the article says so plainly.
Michelle Smallmon Full Biography at a Glance
Here are the verified facts in one place. Items marked “reported” come from secondary sources and are not confirmed by ESPN.
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Michelle Smallmon |
| Age | 40 (as of November 2026) |
| Date of birth | August 13, 1986 (reported) |
| Birthplace | Belleville, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Current home | New York City |
| Parents | Tony and Robin Smallmon |
| High school | Belleville Althoff Catholic High School |
| University | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| Degree | Broadcast journalism, class of 2008 |
| Profession | Sports radio host and producer |
| Current show | Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle |
| Show debut | September 5, 2023 |
| Show time | Weekdays, 6 to 10 a.m. ET |
| Co-hosts | Evan Cohen and Chris Canty |
| Previous show | Karraker & Smallmon on 101 ESPN, St. Louis (May 2020 to September 2022) |
| Historic first | First woman to have her name on a show at 101 ESPN St. Louis |
| Favorite teams | Cardinals, Blues, and the Green Bay Packers (adopted) |
| Marital status | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not officially disclosed; unverified web estimates say $1 million to $2 million |
| Social handles | @msmallmon on X and Instagram |
| Height | About 5 ft 7 in (reported) |
Who Is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle Smallmon is an ESPN Radio host, former radio producer, and one of the better known women in national sports talk. She co-hosts Unsportsmanlike on weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. ET. The show also airs on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Here is the short version of who she is:
- Profession: Sports radio host, producer, and media personality
- Current role: Co-host of Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle
- Network: ESPN Radio
- Based in: New York City
- Hometown: Belleville, Illinois
- Alma mater: University of Illinois, broadcast journalism, class of 2008
Her style is relaxed and funny, but she backs it up with real analysis. She also built her career mostly as a producer, which shapes how she runs a show.
Michelle Smallmon Early Life and Family Background
Michelle Smallmon grew up in Belleville, Illinois, on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, across from St. Louis. She has said she identifies as an Illinoisan, not a Missourian, even though her sports fandom grew up in St. Louis.
Her parents, Tony and Robin, were the reason she fell for sports. The family went to St. Louis Blues and Cardinals games. She learned to keep score at Busch Stadium as a kid. She also grew up a Rams fan and was heartbroken when the team left St. Louis.
Her family has stayed a steady part of her story. When she started out in 2008, she moved back in with her parents while working an early morning TV job.
Michelle Smallmon Husband/Spouse
There is no verified public information about a husband or spouse. Michelle Smallmon has not discussed a marriage in major interviews, and ESPN’s official bio does not mention one.
Many low quality websites claim to know her relationship status. Treat those claims with caution. Without a confirmed statement from her, the honest answer is that her romantic life is private.
Michelle Smallmon Education and School Life
She attended Belleville Althoff Catholic High School, where she was a soccer standout. Some websites say she played volleyball in college. Her alumni profile points to high school soccer, and no reliable source confirms college volleyball.
For college, she chose the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A visit on a football weekend sold her.
“I walked on the Quad, I looked around and it felt like home.” That is how she described it to The News-Gazette. Here is what her college years looked like:
- She started as a pre-med student who planned to become a dermatologist.
- A freshman chemistry class in 2004 changed her mind.
- She switched to broadcast journalism.
- She applied to nearly every internship her adviser sent her way.
- Her experience included work on Monday Night Football, Illini Productions, and an internship at KSDK in St. Louis.
- She graduated in 2008 and credits professor John Paul for giving students practical tools.
She was also a member of Block I and Orange Krush, and she lived through the Illini’s 2005 run to the NCAA championship game.
Michelle Smallmon Career: From Producer to ESPN Star
Her career has three clear stages. She learned the craft behind the glass, built a name in her home market, and then bet on herself in New York.
She Started Behind the Scenes
After graduating in 2008, Michelle Smallmon planned to move to Chicago. The economy had just crashed, and media jobs vanished. She turned to a contact at St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK instead.
She landed a part-time production assistant job. Her days looked like this:
- Work from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m., writing scripts and running the teleprompter
- Head to the sports office from 2 to 6 p.m. to volunteer
- Cover high school football and host a segment on a Sunday night show
Sports director Frank Cusumano and anchor Rene Knott became mentors. When ESPN Radio arrived in St. Louis, Knott asked her to join a weekend show. A program director heard her and asked her to produce a show for local sports voice Bernie Miklasz. She said yes.
On air was never her goal. She simply said yes when asked.
She Grew at 101 ESPN St. Louis
Michelle Smallmon spent 2009 to 2015 at 101 ESPN, where she produced and appeared on several signature shows. In 2015 she moved to Bristol, Connecticut, to produce for the national ESPN Radio network. She worked there for about three years with hosts such as Jorge Sedano, Jen Lada, Danny Kanell, Ryen Russillo, and Will Cain.
In 2018 she came home to St. Louis as a morning host alongside Bernie Miklasz, and later she was paired with Randy Karraker. From May 2020 to September 2022, she hosted Karraker & Smallmon. That made her the first woman to have her name on a show in the station’s history.
Her local resume goes beyond radio:
- In-game host for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL
- Video work with MLS club St. Louis City SC
- Host of the St. Louis New Year’s Eve party at Ballpark Village
- Host of the USBWA dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club, where she interviewed top college basketball names
She Made It to the National Stage
By 2022, ratings were strong and she was home with family. Even so, she felt something was missing. After the pandemic, she decided to try New York City. Her program director encouraged her to go and offered fill-in work.
The first year was not glamorous. She had a 30-show usage deal with ESPN Radio, filled in at 101 ESPN, and picked up side jobs, including work at a jewelry store.
Then ESPN Radio executive Justin Craig called with an offer. She thought he meant the overnight show. He meant morning drive. Unsportsmanlike launched on September 5, 2023, with Evan Cohen, Chris Canty, and Michelle Smallmon as the trio. The show is produced at a studio at New York’s South Street Seaport.
Her first day included a small drama. She covered a black eye with makeup before going on air.
Michelle Smallmon Net Worth and Salary
Michelle Smallmon’s exact net worth is not public. ESPN does not publish salaries for its radio hosts, and she has not shared her earnings.
Many websites repeat a figure of $1 million to $2 million, along with a salary of about $100,000. These numbers appear on copycat sites without any source or method. Treat them as unverified guesses, not facts.
What can be said with confidence:
- She hosts a flagship national morning show, which is the most prominent slot on ESPN Radio.
- Her income likely comes from her ESPN Radio contract, along with event hosting.
- Her contract terms have never been reported.
Michelle Smallmon on Social Media
Her verified handle on X and Instagram is @msmallmon. She posts show moments, sports takes, travel photos, and behind the scenes clips.
Beyond her own accounts, fans can follow her work through:
- The ESPN Radio app and live broadcast
- ESPN2 and ESPNU simulcasts
- The Unsportsmanlike podcast and daily “Best of” episodes
- Local ESPN Radio affiliates carrying the show
Michelle Smallmon’s Impact on Women in Sports Media
Michelle Smallmon’s rise matters because national sports radio has long been male dominated. She is now one of three voices on the most important show on the network.
Her impact shows up in three ways:
- Representation: She is the first woman to have her name on a 101 ESPN show, and now a national morning co-host.
- A different path: She came up as a producer, not as a celebrity athlete or a personality chasing attention. That shows aspiring broadcasters there is more than one way in.
- Honest storytelling: She openly talks about job loss in 2008, side jobs in New York, and self doubt. That makes her story useful for people early in their careers.
What Makes Michelle Smallmon Stand Out?
Here is what sets her apart from other sports radio hosts:
- Producer mindset: She thinks about the whole show, not only her own segment.
- Balance: Media analysts describe Unsportsmanlike as a mix of styles where no host takes over.
- Humor with substance: She can deliver serious baseball analysis in an alligator costume and make both work.
- Low ego: She has said she does not need the spotlight.
- Willingness to take risks: She left a successful job at home for an uncertain move.
Interesting Facts About Michelle Smallmon
- She once planned to be a dermatologist.
- She adopted the Green Bay Packers after a segment on her show styled like The Bachelorette, where she eliminated teams one by one.
- She interviewed an Illinois player for the College GameDay podcast during her first campus visit since 2008.
- She stayed in New York by working odd jobs while waiting for a break.
- She grew up a Rams fan and still has deep ties to St. Louis.
- Her show’s Halloween costumes, such as a Happy Gilmore theme, have become a fan favorite tradition.
Final Thoughts
Michelle Smallmon’s story shows that a national radio career can be built slowly and with patience. She started as a part-time production assistant, learned every role in a radio studio, and then took a risk when things were comfortable. That choice led to one of the biggest chairs in sports radio.
Her personal life, including any spouse and her finances, remains private, and that is worth respecting. What is clear is her talent, her work ethic, and her place in sports media history.
FAQs
Who is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle Smallmon is an ESPN Radio host and former producer who co-hosts the national morning show Unsportsmanlike with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty.
How old is Michelle Smallmon?
She is 40 years old as of November 2026. Secondary sources report her birthday as August 13, 1986.
Where is Michelle Smallmon from?
She is from Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis, and now lives in New York City.
Who is Michelle Smallmon’s husband?
No spouse has been publicly confirmed. She keeps her personal life private.
Who are Michelle Smallmon’s parents?
Her parents are Tony and Robin Smallmon, who took her to Blues and Cardinals games growing up.
Where did Michelle Smallmon go to college?
She graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008 with a degree in broadcast journalism.
What is Michelle Smallmon’s net worth?
It is not officially disclosed. Unverified websites estimate $1 million to $2 million.
What show does Michelle Smallmon host?
She co-hosts Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle on ESPN Radio, weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. ET.
When did Unsportsmanlike start?
The show debuted on September 5, 2023.
What was Michelle Smallmon’s first show in St. Louis?
Her best known local show was Karraker & Smallmon on 101 ESPN, which ran from May 2020 to September 2022.
Is Michelle Smallmon on social media?
Yes. Her handle is @msmallmon on X and Instagram.
What did Michelle Smallmon do before ESPN Radio’s national show?
She worked as a TV production assistant, a radio producer in St. Louis and Bristol, and a morning host at 101 ESPN.
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