Kathryn Tappen
{{short description|American sportscaster}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
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| nationality = American
| alma_mater = Rutgers University
| occupation = Sportscaster
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| spouse = {{marriage|Jay Leach|2009|2014|end=divorced}}
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Kathryn Tappen is an American sportscaster. Tappen works on NBC Sports Group's coverage of the Notre Dame Football, Football Night in America, NHL Network's NHL Now, Golf, as well as the Summer and Winter Olympic Games among others.{{Cite news|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/kathryn-tappen/|title=KATHRYN TAPPEN|date=2014-07-09|work=NBC Sports Pressbox|access-date=2017-10-06|language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Growing up, Tappen played youth baseball and basketball on boys' teams because there were no teams for girls where she lived. She also played golf, tennis and ran cross country. In her senior year of high school at Villa Walsh Academy, Tappen focused exclusively on track and eventually received academic and athletic scholarships to attend Rutgers University.{{cite web|last=Molori|first=John|url=http://www.espn.com/espnw/features/article/6615178/boston-anchor-kathryn-tappen-tames-bruins|title=Boston anchor Kathryn Tappen tames Bruins|date=2011-06-04|website=ESPNW|access-date=2017-12-22}}{{cite news|last=Wieneke|first=Bob|url=https://www.ndinsider.com/football/tappen-took-different-route-to-notre-dame-football-sideline/article_7449c471-e898-51f7-8e96-1d7d457024be.html|title=Tappen took different route to Notre Dame football sideline|date=2014-07-23|newspaper=South Bend Tribune|via=ndinsider.com|access-date=2017-12-22}}
At Rutgers, Tappen majored in journalism{{cite web|last=Havsy|first=Jane|url=http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/sports/2015/09/04/tappen-nbc/71694522/|title=Morristown native to work Notre Dame sideline for NBC|date=September 4, 2015|website=Daily Record)|access-date=January 5, 2018}} and was a member of the cross-country and track teams until graduating in 2003. She was a four-time Academic All-American and Big East All Star as a Scarlet Knight.{{Cite news|url=https://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/11/30-seconds-with-kathryn-tappen-nhl-network-job-is-merely-the-latest-highlight/|title=30 Seconds With Kathryn Tappen: NHL Network Job Is Merely the Latest Highlight|last=Hoppert|first=Melissa|work=Slap Shot|date=11 February 2012 |access-date=2017-10-06|language=en}}{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.scarletknights.com/news/2016/8/6/Former_Scarlet_Knight_in_Rio_To_Cover_Olympics_for_NBC_Sports.aspx?path=wcross|title=Former Scarlet Knight in Rio to Cover Olympics for NBC Sports|date=2016-08-06|website=Rutgers Scarlet Knights|access-date=2017-12-22}}
Career
After starting in College Sports Television, Tappen joined WJAR in Providence, R.I., where she served as both a weekend anchor and weekday sports reporter. From there she moved to New England Sports Network (NESN). Tappen then joined the NHL Network in 2011 where she hosted NHL Tonight,{{cite web |url=http://www.eyeonsportsmedia.com/2007/12/talent-profile-kathryn-tappen-nesn.html |title=Talent profile - Kathryn Tappen |publisher=Eys on Sports Media |date=December 5, 2007 |access-date=July 27, 2017}} and subsequently moved to NBC in the summer of 2014.{{cite web|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2014/07/09/kathryn-tappen-joins-nbc-sports-group/|title=Kathryn Tappen joins NBC sports group|date=July 9, 2014|publisher=NBC|access-date=July 27, 2017}}
In 2014, Tappen won the "Woman of Inspiration" award presented by the Boston Chapter of Women in Sports and Events.{{Cite web|url=http://tdgardenbiz.com/2014/12/wise/|title=WISE (Women in Sports & Events) To Honor Kathryn Tappen Dec. 18 {{!}} TD Garden Business Network|website=tdgardenbiz.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-06}} She has been nominated for two New England Emmy Awards for sports reporting and won an Associated Press award in 2006 for her feature Swim Meet.
Personal life
Tappen married former NHL defenseman and coach Jay Leach in July 2009.{{cite news|last=Doyle|first=Bill|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20110325/COLUMN08/103250512|title=Tuning In: Sharks to distribute Kathryn Tappen bobblehead dolls tonight|date=March 25, 2011|newspaper=The Telegram|access-date=October 4, 2017}}{{cite news|author=|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/fashion/weddings/19TAPPEN.html|title=Kathryn Tappen, Jay Leach|date=July 18, 2009|newspaper=The New York Times|department=Weddings/Celebrations|access-date=October 4, 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/kathryn-tappen/ NBC Sports Group biography]
{{NHL on NBC}}
{{Notre Dame Football on NBC}}
{{NHL on TNT}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tappen, Kathryn}}
Category:American television reporters and correspondents
Category:Boston Bruins announcers
Category:College football announcers
Category:National Hockey League broadcasters
Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football announcers
Category:Olympic Games broadcasters
Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's track and field athletes
Category:Sportspeople from Morristown, New Jersey
Category:Track and field athletes from New Jersey
Category:Television anchors from Boston
Category:American women sports commentators