Melissa Stark Melissa Stark ( born November 11 , 1973 ) , is an American television personality and sportscaster who works as a reporter for the NFL Network and previously had worked with NBC , which she joined in 2003 , primarily at its MSNBC subsidiary . She was also a correspondent for NBC ' s The Today Show . In the summer of 2008 , she anchored MSNBC ' s coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics . Prior to NBC , she was best known for her three - year stint as a sideline reporter for " Monday Night Football " . She has also worked as a reporter for ESPN . Biography . Early life and career . Stark has a degree in Foreign Affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia . While in college , she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority . She began her career at WMAR - TV in Baltimore in 1991 as a news intern working on the assignment desk . Stark was a news intern for the " CBS Evening News with Dan Rather " in 1993 and 1994 where she wrote scripts and assembled background information on investigative pieces for health correspondent Dr . Bob Arnot . Prior to joining ESPN , from 1994 – 95 , Stark was a production assistant and reporter for Virginia Sports Marketing in Charlottesville for the University of Virginia ' s " Coach ' s TV Show " , which aired in all major markets in Virginia . ESPN . Stark joined ESPN in 1996 as the host of the weekly program " Scholastic Sports America " , where she traveled across the United States covering high school and college sports focusing on human interest and issue - related stories . From 1996 – 03 , Stark reported for ESPN ' s " SportsCenter " , where she served as a regular contributor to " Sunday NFL Countdown " and the Emmy Award - winning show , " Outside the Lines " . Stark was also the " SportsCenter " on - site host for the NBA Finals , World Series , Stanley Cup Finals , Final Four and covered national stories including Major League Baseball , National Hockey League , golf and NCAA basketball for the network . ABC Sports . Melissa Stark joined ABC Sports in June 2000 . Melissa Stark was the lead sideline reporter for ABC Sports ' " Monday Night Football " for three seasons , from 2000 - 03 , which included ABC ' s coverage of Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego . Stark also served as a reporter for ABC Sports ' coverage of figure skating , the NFL Pro Bowl and celebrity golf events . In 2001 , Stark was detained in Mexico after a security guard , not knowing she worked for ABC covering an NFL game , refused her , Al Michaels and Dan Fouts entry into the stadium where the game was being played . The detention lasted a while before the matter was resolved and the charges dropped . Stark admits to being quite embarrassed that she couldn ' t communicate with Mexican police since Spanish was one of her majors . In addition to her sports casting career , Stark has appeared as a guest host on " The View " and was the co - host of ABC Entertainment ' s 2001 pilot presentation of " The Runner " , a prime - time reality - based program conceived by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck . NBC News and Sports . In July 2003 , she joined NBC News as a National Correspondent for " The Today Show " and would also anchor " MSNBC Live " . She made her NBC Sports debut in 2004 contributing reports and interviews for the network ’ s coverage of the Triple Crown and other big horse racing events for the network . * In 2005 , Stark participated as a reporter for NBC ' s New Year ' s Eve coverage , hosted by Carson Daly . She left " MSNBC Live " and " The Today Show " in November 2006 . She also hosted MSNBC ' s coverage of the 2009 Super Bowl . Melissa Stark did work her third Olympic Games for NBC Sports serving as an anchor for MSNBC ' s coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics . Previously , Stark served as the speed skating reporter during NBC ' s coverage of the Torino Olympics Winter Games and the swimming and diving reporter at the 2004 Athens Olympics . NFL Network . Melissa Stark has also recently started doing field work for NFL Network , more specifically , the shows " NFL Total Access " and " Around The League Live " . Stark is set to host the NFL Network newest gameday show " First on the Field " on September 9 , 2012 . Personal life . Melissa is the daughter of Walter Stark , an eye surgeon at the world famous Wilmer Eye Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore , Maryland . Growing up in Baltimore , she graduated from the Roland Park Country School , a prestigious women ' s prep school in Baltimore before attending the University of Virginia . She resides in Rumson , New Jersey and is married to Mike Lilley . She also owns a home in Sea Bright , NJ per " The Boomer & Carton Show " , Nov . 14 , 2012 .