Olivia Dekker
Olivia Dekker (née Harlan; born April 8, 1993) is an American sportscaster, currently working as a sideline reporter for ESPN College Football, the NFL on Westwood One Sports, and Big Ten Network basketball.
Olivia Dekker | |
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Born | Olivia Harlan April 8, 1993 |
Alma mater | University of Georgia |
Occupation | Sideline reporter |
Years active | 2013–present |
Employer | ESPN College Football, SEC Network |
Title | Miss Kansas Teen USA 2010 |
Spouse(s) | Sam Dekker |
Parent(s) | Kevin Harlan (father) |
Dekker was Miss Kansas Teen USA in 2010, competing in the Miss Teen USA 2010. Her father is Kevin Harlan, a play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports, TNT Sports, and the NFL on Westwood One Sports. Her grandfather, Bob Harlan, is a former executive for the Green Bay Packers. She has three brothers and sisters. She graduated at the University of Georgia in 2014.[1] She grew up in Overland Park, Kansas.
Career
Prior to Dekker joining ESPN in 2015, she covered SEC and ACC football for Fox Sports South and Raycom as a reporter and she co-hosted a daily web series for the Green Bay Packers training camp as the team reporter. She was previously a sideline reporter for Green Bay Packers preseason games on Packers TV Network, and a host of ACC All-Access and sideline reporter for Atlanta Hawks games on Fox Sports South.[1] Olivia and her father Kevin Harlan made history by being the first father-daughter to call a NFL game when the San Francisco 49ers played the Green Bay Packers on October 15, 2018.[2] Kevin was the play by play announcer and Olivia was the sideline reporter for Westwood One.[3] She covered World TeamTennis for CBS Sports in 2019.[4]
Personal life
Dekker is married to Sam Dekker who played in the NBA for four seasons and played on the Wisconsin Badgers Basketball team from 2012-2015 which included being back to back Final Four teams in 2014 and 2015.[5][6] The couple asked family, friends, and fans to donate to the Children's Center Family Foundation instead of receiving wedding gifts. They raised over $65,000 on their wedding fundraiser.[7] Olivia recently told 105.7FM The FAN that her father, Kevin, really wanted Olivia to keep her family name. She mentioned that she has yet to legally change her last name.[8] They were named 2018 People of the Year by The Sheboygan Press.[9] She's on the board of directors for Children's Cancer Family Foundation.[10]
References
- "Olivia Dekker". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- "Father and Daughter make history". USA Today. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- Jaclyn Hendricks. "Olivia Dekker's Broadcasting Rise briefly runs aside famous dad". NY Post. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- Tennis Panorama News. "Springfield Lasers and New York Empire Reach World TeamTennis Championship Final". tennispanorama.com. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- "Dekker Harlan married". The Knot. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- "Sam Dekker Olivia Harlan Wisconsin's Royal Wedding". Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- Marina Affo. "Dekkers raise over $65,000 from wedding for Children's Cancer Family Foundation". Sheboygan Press. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- https://twitter.com/1057FMTheFan/status/1244734169114173440
- "Sheboygan's 2018 People of the Year". sheboyganpress.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- "Board of Directors". ccffnew.org. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
External links
- Olivia Dekker profile at ESPN Media Zone
- Olivia Dekker on Twitter