Who Is Kirk Herbstreit’s Spouse? All About Alison Herbstreit

ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit and his spouse, Alison Herbstreit (née Butler), have been by means of completely different chapters of their lives collectively.

When the couple met throughout their faculty years at Ohio State College, Alison was a cheerleader, whereas Kirk performed soccer and was the quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1989 to 1993. Since then, they’ve celebrated over 20 years of marriage alongside their 4 sons: Jake, Tye, Zak and Chase. The couple are additionally proud canine mother and father, sharing their house with three golden retrievers (they not too long ago mourned the lack of their beloved canine, Ben, in November 2024).

Kirk could also be a sports activities commentator for faculty soccer on ESPN and the NFL on Prime Video, however he tends to maintain his private life non-public. Alison doesn’t seem to have a public social media presence, and her husband seldom posts photographs of their household on-line.

Throughout an August 2009 interview with Columbus Month-to-month journal, Kirk shared a uncommon glimpse into their relationship and the way they steadiness his hectic work schedule with elevating their youngsters.

“My spouse is such a blessing,” he advised the outlet on the time. “She’s so understanding of my schedule. As a lot as we child about it being my flip with the children (after I get house), she’s actually not like that in any respect. I do not know the way she does it. I do not know.”

So who’s Kirk Herbstreit’s spouse? Right here’s every part to learn about Alison Herbstreit and her relationship with the sportscaster.

She was a cheerleader at Ohio State

Ohio State College performs a particular position within the Herbstreit household. Whereas Kirk adopted within the footsteps of his father, Jim Herbstreit, a co-captain of the 1960 Ohio State staff and an assistant coach, the Buckeye legacy comes from Alison, too.

Alison was a cheerleader on the faculty and was a member of the squad in 1993, based on Ohio State. Her time as a cheerleader was remembered by sports activities commentator Chris Fowler throughout a November 2023 look on The Dan Patrick Present.

He recalled a narrative about how sports activities broadcaster and former coach Lee Corso got here to put on the Ohio State College mascot’s head on School GameDay, giving a nod to Alison.

“It began out with a baseball hat, then it was a helmet after which, the Ohio State sport the place you famously noticed Brutus the Buckeye’s head, requested for it,” he defined. “They politely stated no, after which they negotiated as a result of Kirk Herbstreit’s spouse Alison was part of the cheerleading staff. That’s a real story, and so they lastly satisfied them.”

She and Kirk share 4 youngsters

Kirk and Alison are the proud mother and father of 4 sons: twins Jake and Tye, Zak, and Chase. Very like their father, the entire couple’s children play soccer.

Regardless of their household’s lengthy legacy at Ohio State College, Jake and Tye each initially performed for Clemson College, beginning as walk-ons for the staff. They addressed their Buckeye loyalty throughout a November 2018 interview with TigerNet, with Jake telling the outlet that he grew up as an Ohio State fan his total life.

“I’ve all the time beloved the Buckeyes, however I simply sort of needed to decide on my very own path and exit and have a unique expertise aside from up north,” he added.

Tye stated that he was “nonetheless a Buckeye fan at coronary heart,” earlier than noting that he was “excited to rep some new jerseys” and was “actually excited to be a part of Clemson.”

Whereas Tye performed for the Clemson Tigers from 2019 to 2022 and appeared in 12 video games, Jake left the college in 2021, based on USA At this time. Jake finally leaned into the Herbstreit legacy, and based on his Instagram bio, he graduated from Ohio State College in 2024.

In the meantime, Zak went on to play soccer at Ohio State as a decent finish, becoming a member of the staff in 2021 as a most well-liked walk-on. He is presently in his fourth season after he was hospitalized in June 2023 attributable to coronary heart points.

Lastly, Chase is a senior in highschool, the place he is a quarterback on the soccer staff.

They’ve lived in Ohio and Tennessee

Whereas Kirk and Alison’s hearts are with Ohio, they’ve lived across the nation as a result of sportscaster’s job.

Kirk and his household lived in Ohio full-time till they moved to Nashville in March 2011. On the time, he advised The Columbus Dispatch that he had been mulling over the transfer to Tennessee for a number of years attributable to criticism from Ohio State followers.

“No person loves Ohio State greater than me,” Kirk advised the publication. “However I’ve acquired a job to do, and I will proceed to be honest and goal. To proceed to need to defend myself and my household with reference to my love and devotion to Ohio State is unfair.”

He shared that he and Alison checked out a number of cities earlier than deciding on their selection of Nashville and stated that “from a sports activities perspective, that is tough.”

Nonetheless, Kirk and Alison made their return as a household again to Ohio in 2021 — not less than briefly — for his youngest son’s education.

“We’ve got plenty of respect for … the varsity and the tradition. We’ll try to make it work,” he advised The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Kirk and Alison deliberate on maintaining their house outdoors of Nashville whereas additionally renting a spot in Cincinnati the place their son would attend college. The couple aimed to make journeys again to Columbus to Ohio State, the place their two sons, Jake and Zak, attended faculty as properly.

They not too long ago misplaced one in every of their beloved canine

Kirk and Alison not solely have 4 sons, however they’re additionally canine mother and father to Peter, Theo, Mitch and the late Ben.

The sports activities commentator has posted photographs and movies of the household’s golden retrievers on social media. Ben grew to become probably the most well-known of the bunch, as he was usually with Kirk at work and frequently appeared on TV.

Kirk was open about Ben’s well being points, sharing on X (previously Twitter) in September 2024 that he was identified with leukemia a number of months earlier in March. Two months later, Kirk revealed that Ben wasn’t doing properly.

In an emotional Instagram publish on Nov. 7, Kirk introduced that after a protracted well being battle, Ben had died at age 10. Within the tribute to his canine, he described him as “smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all.”

“He and I might talk..he and I understood one another and had every others backs,” Kirk added. “He was with me greater than anybody at house and touring with me for work. Such a straightforward going companion. Onerous day-but he’ll dwell inside all of us without end.”

Kirk is “so grateful” for Alison

Whereas Kirk hardly ever shares particulars about his private life on social media, together with moments along with his spouse, he has posted heartfelt tributes to Alison on Mom’s Day over time.

In Might 2021, Kirk shared a photograph of Alison posing with their 4 sons, together with Ben. Within the caption, he penned a brief however candy notice for the vacation, writing, “Blissful Mom’s Day!! Alli together with her boys Tye Chase Ben Jake and Zak!”

Kirk marked the event as soon as once more in Might 2023, this time sharing a snap of Alison embracing their youngsters.

“Blissful Moms Day to Alli and all of the Mothers! So grateful for all you do!!” he wrote within the caption. “There’s not a much bigger extra vital job in America than a loving Mom. They’re the inspiration for all of us.”

He added, “A Moms love is different-it’s unconditional and enduring. Blissful Moms Day Mothers and thanks for all you do-EVERY DAY!”