Michelle Smallmon, aged 39, is an American sports radio host and co-host of ESPN Radio’s flagship national morning show Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle, airing weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. ET. Born in Belleville, Illinois on August 13, 1986, she spent over a decade as a radio producer and on-air host across ESPN Radio’s local and national platforms before landing the morning drive seat in September 2023. A University of Illinois broadcast journalism graduate, Smallmon became the first woman in the history of 101 ESPN St. Louis to have her name on a show, and her path from part-time news production to ESPN’s national morning flagship stands as one of the more compelling career stories in American sports media.
TL;DR
- Michelle Smallmon co-hosts ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike, the network’s signature morning show, with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty, 6-10 a.m. ET weekdays.
- Born August 13, 1986, in Belleville, Illinois; University of Illinois broadcast journalism graduate, Class of 2008.
- First woman to have her name on a show in 101 ESPN St. Louis history (Karraker and Smallmon, May 2020 to September 2022).
- Estimated net worth: $1 million to $2 million as of 2026; annual ESPN Radio salary reported at approximately $100,000.
- Served on the boards of the Young Professionals for the St. Louis Zoo and The Little Bit Foundation.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michelle Smallmon |
| Known As | Michelle Smallmon / @msmallmon |
| Date of Birth | August 13, 1986 |
| Age | 39 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Belleville, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Not publicly disclosed |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Education | University of Illinois, Broadcast Journalism (Class of 2008) |
| Profession | Sports Radio Host, Broadcaster, Former Radio Producer |
| Employer | ESPN Radio |
| Active Since | 2008 |
| Platforms / Outlets | ESPN Radio, X (Twitter), Instagram |
| Height | Not publicly disclosed |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Relationship Status | Not publicly disclosed |
| Net Worth | $1 million to $2 million (estimated) |
Who is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle Smallmon is an American sports radio host best known as co-host of ESPN Radio’s national morning show Unsportsmanlike, where she appears alongside Evan Cohen and Chris Canty on the network’s flagship 6-10 a.m. ET drive slot.
Smallmon grew up in Belleville, Illinois, a city on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River across from St. Louis. She originally intended to study medicine but pivoted to broadcast journalism at the University of Illinois after a freshman chemistry course confirmed the career switch. Her early years in the industry were spent almost entirely as a radio producer, first at KSDK in St. Louis and then at ESPN Radio’s national headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, before she transitioned to the air.
Her profile grew steadily through a decade of alternating between 101 ESPN St. Louis and the national ESPN Radio network. In May 2020, she became the first woman to have her name on a show in 101 ESPN’s history when Karraker and Smallmon launched. After leaving St. Louis for New York in 2022 and spending a year working odd jobs while chasing broadcasting opportunities, she was offered the co-host seat on Unsportsmanlike, ESPN Radio’s signature morning programme. The show launched on September 5, 2023, and is produced at New York’s South Street Seaport studio.
Early Life and Background
Childhood and Family
Michelle Smallmon was born on August 13, 1986, and grew up in Belleville, Illinois, raised by parents Tony and Robin Smallmon, both of whom instilled a strong passion for sports from an early age.
Tony Smallmon works in real estate. The family attended St. Louis Cardinals baseball games regularly, and Michelle learned to keep score at Busch Stadium as a child. She also followed the St. Louis Blues hockey team. Smallmon attended Belleville Althoff Catholic High School, where she played soccer. She has publicly described herself as “Illinois through and through,” maintaining a firm allegiance to her home state despite years working in St. Louis. Her parents are credited in multiple interviews as the foundational reason she became a serious sports fan.
Education
Smallmon graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008 with a degree in broadcast journalism, having entered in 2004 intending to study pre-medicine before a freshman chemistry class changed the trajectory.
During her time at Illinois she sought every available internship, working for Monday Night Football, Illini Productions, and KSDK in St. Louis. She was a member of Block I and Orange Krush, the university’s student sports organisations, and attended the 2004-05 men’s basketball season when the Illini reached the NCAA championship game under coach Bruce Weber. She singles out professor John Paul as a key mentor who gave her the practical tools to succeed in broadcasting. She returned to the Illinois campus in November 2024 for the first time since graduation, interviewing defensive back Xavier Scott for the College GameDay podcast and touring the Smith Center with coach Bret Bielema.
Career Journey
Before Fame
After graduating in 2008 during the financial crisis, Smallmon returned to Belleville and took a part-time production assistant role at St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK, working 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. writing scripts and running the teleprompter.
She spent her afternoons in the KSDK sports office on a voluntary basis, building relationships with sports director Frank Cusumano and anchor Rene Knott, both of whom became mentors. She covered high school football, hosted segments of a Sunday night show, and positioned herself to move into radio when ESPN Radio launched in St. Louis. Knott asked her to co-host a three-hour weekend broadcast, and after the programme director heard her on air he asked her to produce a show for veteran St. Louis sports columnist Bernie Miklasz. She credits that invitation as the turning point of her entire career.
How Michelle Smallmon Got Started at ESPN Radio
Smallmon joined ESPN Radio’s national network in Bristol, Connecticut as a producer around 2012, spending approximately three years working with talent including Jorge Sedano, Jen Lada, Danny Kanell, Ryen Russillo, and Will Cain.
She returned to St. Louis in 2018 when ESPN Radio invited her to co-host with Bernie Miklasz. After Miklasz’s departure she was paired with Randy Karraker, forming the Karraker and Smallmon morning show that ran from May 2020 to September 2022 on 101 ESPN. Her name on that show was a first in the station’s history. She also served as in-game host for the St. Louis XFL team the Battlehawks, produced video content for MLS club St. Louis City SC, hosted St. Louis’s New Year’s Eve party at Ballpark Village, and hosted the USBWA dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club where she interviewed leading college basketball figures.
Breakthrough Moment
Smallmon’s defining career leap came when ESPN Radio boss Justin Craig offered her the co-host seat on the relaunched morning show that became Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle, which debuted on September 5, 2023.
The offer came after Smallmon had quit her St. Louis role in 2022 and moved to New York City with no job secured, subletting an apartment while working at a jewelry store and packing meals to cover her living costs. She had a 30-show usage deal with ESPN Radio and occasionally filled in at 101 ESPN and on SiriusXM. When Craig called, she assumed he was offering an overnight slot. Learning it was the flagship 6-10 a.m. morning drive position was, in her own words, something she would never have fathomed in her wildest dreams. The show draws millions of listeners across the ESPN Radio network and is produced at New York’s South Street Seaport.
Career Today
As of 2026, Michelle Smallmon co-hosts Unsportsmanlike daily with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty, covering every major American sports league with a tone designed to entertain morning audiences and inform dedicated sports fans.
The show covers NFL, NBA, MLB, and all trending sports topics. The three hosts are known for chemistry and levity: on Halloween 2024 they dressed as characters from Happy Gilmore, with Smallmon in an alligator costume delivering serious World Series analysis. In summer 2025, she publicly searched for a new NFL team on-air, running a parody of The Bachelorette before settling on the Green Bay Packers after finding a vintage Packers shirt at a New York store. Smallmon lives in New York City and has described the move as one of the best decisions of her life.
Reporting Style and Beat
Smallmon’s on-air identity is defined by genuine sports knowledge built over a decade as a producer, a self-described reluctance to seek the spotlight, and a preference for substance and levity over performative bluster.
She spent her formative years behind the glass thinking about how to build shows effectively, how to inform and entertain, and how to extract the best from on-air talent. That production instinct shapes her approach as a host: she is more reserved than many sports radio personalities, prioritising conversation over personal attention. In a November 2025 interview with Front Office Sports, she acknowledged candidly that she still sometimes struggles with recognition, instinctively assuming listeners are personal acquaintances rather than members of a national audience numbering in the millions. Her beat spans all major US sports, with NFL and college basketball receiving particular emphasis on Unsportsmanlike.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Followers / Subscribers | Content Type |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | Not publicly confirmed at time of writing | Sports takes, show promotion, personal posts (@msmallmon) |
| Not publicly confirmed | Lifestyle, show moments, travel | |
| ESPN Radio (national) | Millions of listeners | Weekday 6-10 a.m. ET, all major US sports coverage |
Net Worth and Income Streams
Michelle Smallmon’s estimated net worth ranges from $1 million to $2 million as of 2026, with her primary income derived from her ESPN Radio hosting role, supplemented by live event hosting.
Multiple sources report her ESPN Radio salary at approximately $100,000 annually, consistent with industry ranges for national morning show co-hosts at major sports networks. Prior to her current role, she earned income through local radio hosting, ESPN Radio producer and fill-in work, and event hosting in St. Louis. During her transitional year in New York in 2022-23 she supplemented income through a jewelry store job and meal-packing work. No confirmed endorsement deals are publicly documented.
| Income Stream | Estimated Contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN Radio (Unsportsmanlike co-host) | Primary; approx. $100,000/year reported | National morning show, 6-10 a.m. ET weekdays |
| Live Event Hosting | Supplementary | XFL Battlehawks in-game host, Ballpark Village NYE, USBWA dinner |
| 101 ESPN St. Louis (host) | Historical | Karraker and Smallmon, 2020-2022; earlier stints 2009-2015 |
| ESPN Radio production and fill-in | Historical | Bristol, CT national network producer; 30-show usage deal 2022-23 |
Physical Appearance
Height and Body Stats
Michelle Smallmon has not publicly confirmed her height, weight, or other physical measurements in any named interview or official source.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | Not publicly disclosed |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Eye Colour | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hair Colour | Not publicly disclosed |
Personal Life
Relationships
Michelle Smallmon has kept her romantic life entirely private, and no confirmed relationship details are available from any named publication or official source as of 2026.
Family
Smallmon grew up in Belleville with parents Tony and Robin Smallmon, who took her to Cardinals and Blues games throughout her childhood and are credited by her as the origin of her deep passion for sports.
Her father Tony works in real estate. She has discussed the close friendships formed at the University of Illinois, noting that four friends who visited campus together during a football weekend in high school all ended up enrolling at Illinois and remain close today. No other family members have been publicly mentioned in interviews.
Achievements and Milestones
- First woman in the history of 101 ESPN St. Louis to have her name on a show (Karraker and Smallmon, May 2020 to September 2022).
- University of Illinois broadcast journalism graduate, Class of 2008; interned at Monday Night Football and KSDK while a student.
- Produced for ESPN Radio’s national network in Bristol, Connecticut, working alongside Jorge Sedano, Ryen Russillo, Danny Kanell, and Will Cain.
- In-game host for the St. Louis XFL Battlehawks and produced video content for MLS club St. Louis City SC.
- Hosted the USBWA dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club, interviewing leading college basketball figures.
- Hosted St. Louis’s signature New Year’s Eve party at Ballpark Village.
- Launched as co-host of ESPN Radio’s flagship national morning show Unsportsmanlike on September 5, 2023.
- Served on the boards of the Young Professionals for the St. Louis Zoo and The Little Bit Foundation.
Interesting Facts About Michelle Smallmon
- She originally planned to become a dermatologist before a freshman chemistry course at the University of Illinois redirected her into broadcasting.
- During her transitional year in New York in 2022-23, she worked at a jewelry store and packed meals on the side to afford rent while pursuing on-air opportunities.
- When ESPN Radio boss Justin Craig offered her the morning show seat, she assumed he meant the overnight SportsCenter lead-in slot, not the flagship morning drive position.
- She chose the Green Bay Packers as her NFL team in 2025 after finding a vintage Packers shirt at a New York store; the team’s community ownership model, which prevents relocation, was a deciding factor.
- On Halloween 2024, she gave serious post-World Series baseball analysis while dressed as the alligator from Happy Gilmore.
- Professor John Paul at the University of Illinois is credited by Smallmon as the educator who gave her the practical tools to succeed in the broadcasting industry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What show does Michelle Smallmon host?
Michelle Smallmon co-hosts Unsportsmanlike with Evan Cohen and Chris Canty on ESPN Radio, airing weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. ET on the national network.
How old is Michelle Smallmon?
Michelle Smallmon was born on August 13, 1986, making her 39 years old as of 2026.
Where is Michelle Smallmon from?
She was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois. She now lives in New York City.
Was Michelle Smallmon the first woman on 101 ESPN St. Louis?
Yes. She became the first woman in the station’s history to have her name on a show when Karraker and Smallmon launched in May 2020.
What did Michelle Smallmon do before ESPN Radio?
She worked as a news production assistant at KSDK in St. Louis, then as an ESPN Radio producer in Bristol, Connecticut, before returning to St. Louis as a co-host on 101 ESPN from 2018 to 2022.
