Olivia Harlan
Olivia Dekker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Olivia Harlan April 8, 1993 |
| Alma mater | University of Georgia |
| Occupation | Sideline reporter |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Employer(s) | ESPN College Football, SEC Network |
| Title | Miss Kansas Teen USA 2010 |
| Spouse | Sam Dekker |
| Parent | Kevin Harlan (father) |
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.
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
- ^ a b "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 Harlan on X