In 2014, STAA compiled a list of the top 30 Sports Broadcasters in the U.S. under 30 years old. Ryan Ruocco was our No. 1 and continues to flourish.
In the ensuing years, we’ve been asked repeatedly to publish an updated list.
Finally, we have.
Selection criteria
This 2018 30 Under 30 was compiled by STAA owner Jon Chelesnik with input from sportscasters, agents, sports radio and TV industry executives and social media.
The job market also influences who is on the list. Earning network and major market opportunities at a young age are strong measures of talent and intangibles.
The job market is our industry’s scoreboard.
We’ve done our best to verify that each person on the list is under 30 years old, but we can’t guarantee it is 100% accurate.
STAA’s 30 Under 30
Sportscasters are listed alphabetically by last name except for the person we’ve chosen as the top sports broadcaster under 30 years old, Alex Faust of the Los Angeles Kings.
Alex Faust
In his second season as the TV voice for the Los Angeles Kings . . . Alex Trebec’s choice to follow him as host of Jeopardy . . . 2011 Jim Nantz Award winner as the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sports broadcaster.
Josh Appel
Broadcasting weekly NFL and major college games on Sports USA Radio Network though he is just two years out of college. . . 2016 Jim Nantz Award winner.
Taylor Bisciotti
Anchor and reporter for NFL Network . . . Former sideline reporter for ESPN and SEC Network.
Pat Boylan
Called an Indiana Pacers game on TV last season . . . Pregame and halftime host and sideline reporter for the Pacers Radio Network . . .Post-game locker room reporter for Pacers TV on Fox Sports Indiana . . .TV play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports Indiana . . . Voice of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.
Scott Braun
Studio host for MLB and NHL Networks. . . . Reports and does play-by-play for MLB Network, play-by-play for SNY and is a talk show host on SiriusXM.
Kevin Brown
ESPN’s youngest full-time play-by-play broadcaster . . . Does college football, college basketball and college hockey for ESPN.
Adam Copeland
Hosts a daily, early morning show on KNBR 680 in San Francisco.
Mike Couzens
Has called college football, basketball and baseball, and high school basketball on ESPN since 2012.
Katie Emmer
Reporter, Fox Sports North . . . 2018 Jim Nantz Award winner.
Jamie Erdahl
Sideline reporter for the SEC on CBS . . . Also covers the NCAA basketball regular season and March Madness for CBS/Turner . . . Previously worked for NESN.
Kevin Fitzgerald
Voice of college basketball on ESPN and minor league baseball’s Columbia Fireflies . . . Has broadcast college football for ESPN and FOX Sports . . . 2014 Jim Nantz Award winner.
Katie George
Milwaukee Bucks sideline reporter . . . Former sports anchor in Louisville . . . Does not turn 25 until December.
Mike Golic Jr.
Sports talk host on ESPN Radio Network.
Olivia Harlan Dekker
College football reporter for ESPN and SEC Network . . . Has also served as the traveling sideline reporter for the Atlanta Hawks and host of ACC All Access.
Taryn Hatcher
Host/reporter for NBC Sports Philadelphia . . . Just four years removed from Rutgers U.
Allie LaForce
Reporter on NBA on TNT . . . Also a courtside reporter during CBS and Turner’s coverage of the NCAA Basketball Tournament . . .Previously CBS’s top college football sideline reporter.
Courtney Lyle
ESPN’s youngest full-time play-by-play announcer . . . Calls basketball, softball and volleyball on ESPN and SEC Network . . . Calls Adidas-sponsored “Friday Night Stripes” high school football package that airs on Twitter.
Michelle Margaux
Just started this month as the Houston Rockets in-game reporter for AT&T SportsNet . . . Has been a sideline reporter and host for the Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres . . . Still just 26.
Meghan McKeown
A sports reporter at WISH-TV in Indianapolis though she graduated from Northwestern just four years ago.
Mike Monaco
Big Ten Network and NBC play-by-play broadcaster.
Joe Musso
Lead sports anchor/reporter at KOVR-TV in Sacramento.
Kelly Nash
Host at MLB Network and NHL Network . . . Has also been a sideline reporter for FOX Sports Florida, covering the Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Alex Perlman
Play-by-play for men’s college basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics on ESPN and SEC Network . . . International speed skating events for the Olympic Channel and NBC Sports Network . . . Host and play-by-play broadcaster for Westwood One Sports.
Emily Proud
Sports anchor/reporter at WKRN-TV Nashville.
Heather Prusak
The 2014 Syracuse grad is a sports anchor/reporter at WGRZ Buffalo.
Jared Sandler
Texas Rangers pre and post-game host and No. 3 play-by-play broadcaster . . . TV voice of the NBA G-League’s Texas Legends . . . On-air talent at The Fan in Dallas.
Evan Stockton
Play-by-play broadcaster for Western Michigan U. athletic events aired on ESPN3, ESPN+, and Bronco All-Access, including WMU men’s and women’s basketball along with men’s and women’s soccer.
Chris Vosters
Play-by-play broadcaster for Big Ten Network, NBC Sports and ESPN+.
Justine Ward
SNY host.
Mike Watts
Preseason TV voice for the Cincinnati Bengals this year . . . Has broadcast a variety of sports on the ESPN networks . . . Has broadcast Big East, American Athletic Conference, Atlantic 10 and Patriot League games.
Others to watch:
Jay Alter, Jack Benjamin, John Fanta, Zack Fisch, Paul Gallant, Nate Gatter, Josh Graham, Brendan Gulick, Alyssa Lang, Sam Levitt, Chantel McCabe, Jevin Redman, Charlie Walter, Adam Young.
2 Comments. Leave new
All exceptional broadcasters. However, I cant believe Callum Williams of Minnesota United has been left off of this list. He’s 29 and by far the best soccer PxP in North America.
MaryLee Melendez is the best young sports broadcaster I have seen. She has already been a sports director and weekend news and sports anchor and reporter in Alabama!