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Michele Tafoya is a respected American sports reporter best known for her work with NBC Sports Group. She served multiple seasons as the sideline reporter for NBC’s Sunday Night Football and hosted the "Big Break NFL" series on the Golf Channel.
Born on December 17, 1964, in Manhattan Beach, California, Michele Tafoya earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1988. She later completed a Master of Business Administration at the University of Southern California in 1991.
Tafoya married Mark Vandersall in 2000. The couple welcomed their first child in 2005 and currently lives in Edina, Minnesota. In various interviews, she has candidly discussed overcoming an eating disorder during her youth, a journey that contributed to her personal resilience and determination.
Michele Tafoya began her broadcasting career in 1993 at WAQS-AM in Charlotte, North Carolina. She later joined WCCO-TV in Minneapolis as a reporter and anchor, remaining there until 1998. During this period, she also served as a host for Minnesota Timberwolves broadcasts and worked as a sideline reporter for the Midwest Sports Channel. Additionally, she provided play-by-play coverage for Big Ten women’s volleyball and basketball.
Between 1994 and 1998, Tafoya was a sideline reporter for the Minnesota Vikings on KFAN-AM. She further broadened her sports experience by serving as a commentator for WNBA games on Lifetime from 1997 to 1999.
In 1994, Tafoya joined CBS Sports, where she served as a game reporter and studio host for broadcasts of NFL, college football, and college basketball through 2000. She transitioned to ABC/ESPN in 2000 and became a regular presence on Monday Night Football, beginning with the 2006 season.
Tafoya gained prominence at ESPN through her extensive work on NFL content, including Monday Night Football, Monday Night Countdown, and SportsCenter. She distinguished herself by covering both NFL and NBA games on the same day—an uncommon achievement in sports broadcasting. This included reporting on the Jets-Dolphins Monday Night Football game for ESPN and the Lakers-Heat NBA game for ABC on the same evening. She repeated this notable feat on Christmas Day later that season with consecutive assignments covering games in San Diego (NFL) and Los Angeles (NBA).
Tafoya's contributions to sports media have earned her numerous honors. In 2009, the American Sportscasters Association ranked her among the top female sportscasters. The Davie Brown Index recognized her in 2006 as one of the most likeable television sports personalities. She also received a Gracie Award from the American Women in Radio and Television for Outstanding Achievement by an Individual On-Air Personality, in acknowledgment of her work covering the WNBA on Lifetime.
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