Henry Tafoya
Henry Tafoya
Henry Tafoya is a legendary New Mexico sports broadcaster and was known as the voice of the New Mexico Lobos from 1977-1998 on KOB-TV. Additionally, Henry established New Mexico’s first all sports radio station at 1150 AM.
He has called WNBA games for Lifetime Television and hosted ESPN skiing telecasts; was college football and basketball sideline reporter on Pardon the Interruption; as well as hosting Inside the NBA on ESPN.
Early Life and Education
Henry Tafoya was raised in a small town in the southern region of Arizona. Both his parents hailed from the Chiricahua tribe; however, their divorce occurred when he was two. As soon as Jack took care of him as an individual with special needs – raising him as a baseball enthusiast who learned left-handed throwing so they may have longer careers ahead of them in their sport – Jack took him under his wing to give Henry everything that would help make his future success inevitable.
At 17, Tafoya attended Newman University to play baseball under legendary coach Paul Sanagorski and receive his B.A. in Mass Communications.
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Professional Career
Henry Tafoya married Andree Tafoya before 1952 and lived both in Colorado and New Mexico with seven siblings.
He quickly established himself as an integral part of college basketball coverage on CBS and ESPN, sharing his love for both sports and music as an interviewee of athletes. Furthermore, he had an exceptional piano talent.
NBC is widely known for its Sunday Night football broadcasts, and Tafoya has served as their lead sideline reporter since 2013. She achieved notable professional recognition when Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak suffered a heart attack during one game that year; Tafoya left her interview midstream and had to sprint across the field in an emergency situation to assist Kubiak; this feat earned her nominations for Sports Emmy awards as well. Since then she has covered various sporting events for NBC.
Achievement and Honors
Tafoya has received multiple accolades throughout her career. In 1997, she won an American Women in Radio and Television Gracie Award for her play-by-play work of WNBA games on Lifetime TV, in addition to serving as an alternate host on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption as well as college football and basketball sideline reporting duties.
Tafoya also worked for NBC Sports at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as a reporter covering rhythmic gymnastics and play-by-play woman for softball, while ESPN loaned her her services calling WNBA games and hosting skiing telecasts, in addition to hosting SportsCenter and Outside the Lines programs.
In 2009, she joined WCCO Radio in the Twin Cities as the host of its evening commute show and quickly become known nationwide for covering major Minnesota sporting events.
Personal Life
Henry Tafoya’s personal life includes spending time with his family. He and Andrea Tafoya are married, and together have two children. Henry enjoys traveling, hunting and fishing as hobbies – playing golf being another one – in addition to charitable work and doing his part to contribute back.
Henry was an admirer of Muhammad Ali, who died Friday evening after battling Parkinson’s disease for many years. Henry remembered Ali as being kind-hearted and gracious – an inspiring role model he described as being generous and humble.
He enjoyed spending time with his children, always there for them. Additionally, he was an iconic sports radio personality in New Mexico who covered football and basketball games on his local station, known for his insightful interviews, incredible insight, and passion for New Mexico sports – earning him membership into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.
Net Worth
Michele Tafoya is an esteemed reporter working for various television channels, likely earning her a considerable sum of money in her field. She has won multiple awards, including two Emmys. Michele currently resides with her husband and their two children in happiness and peace.
Her first break into sports broadcasting and reporting came at KFAN-AM in Minneapolis, where she focused mainly on Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota women’s basketball broadcasts. Later she moved on to WAQS-AM in Charlotte where she went by Mickey Conley alias.
She joined ESPN in January 2000, serving as a sideline reporter on Monday Night Football. Additionally, she was loaned out to NBC Sports to cover rhythmic gymnastics at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as well as swimming coverage in 2008 Summer Olympic Games.