IU grad Shae Cornette named host of 'First Take' on ESPN with Stephen A. Smith

INDIANAPOLIS -- Shae Cornette's "gift of gab" was discovered in the halls of Indiana University when she took one of those dreaded -- by most students -- 8 a.m. public speaking classes.

On the first day, the teacher dove right in, asking each student to pick a random object in the room, stand in front of the class and talk about the object they'd chosen for two minutes. Cornette chose a chair.

And, she talked about it for four minutes.

"Afterward, my professor said, 'You really have a gift of gab. You seem to know how to speak about random things with ease. Maybe you should consider a career in broadcast journalism,'" Cornette told IndyStar in 2020. "I'd never really thought about that."

But then she did.

And this week, nearly two decades later, Cornette's broadcast career went to another level when she was named the host of "First Take" on ESPN, joining a crew that includes the outspoken and oft controversial Stephen A. Smith on the sports debate show that airs 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.

Cornette replaces Molly Qerim, who hosted the show for 10 years, but left the network in September amid a reported contract disagreement, according to USA Today.

Cornette has been a longtime anchor on SportsCenter and a mainstay across ESPN programming since joining the network in 2020. She will make her debut as host of 'First Take' Nov. 3 after serving as a fill-in host for the past several years.

"(Shae) is known for her dynamic presence, extensive knowledge and confident command of conversation," ESPN said in a statement, "making her a respected and recognizable voice across television, radio and streaming."

IndyStar reached out to Cornette who was unavailable Friday, but agreed to talk in the coming days about her new position.

“I feel ready to step into this role and know I can add to the already successful brand that 'First Take' is," Cornette said in a statement when ESPN announced her role. "From my days in radio to hosting 'SportsCenter' and now 'First Take,' my journey at ESPN has been one of growth, challenge and opportunity. 'First Take’s' energy, perspective and passion represents everything I love about sports, and I’m excited to bring more of that to the debate desk every weekday morning."

Smith, executive producer of "First Take," said he was looking forward to what Cornette will bring to the table.

"Hosting 'First Take' is no easy assignment. It requires confidence, toughness, and real sports insight — and Shae brings all of that and more," Smith said in a statement. "I’ve seen her command the desk with poise and passion every time she’s hosted. She’s the real deal, and I’m thrilled to have her officially join the team."

'It was all because of IU. That's how it all started'

Cornette was born and raised in Chicago amid a family of sports nuts. There were dogs named Ernie Banks and Wrigley. The family had Bulls season tickets. But Cornette never had an inclination to make a career covering sports — until that first college class at IU.

She had season tickets for college basketball all four years. At IU, Cornette said, "that was a religion" and her love of sports only grew.

Then came her first break. Her senior year in 2008 when Kelvin Sampson was forced to resign due to NCAA violations, Cornette went about campus to do man on the street interviews. She asked students what they thought about the coach's firing.

The Big Ten Network was fairly new and didn't have the resources to send reporters to all the campuses when big news broke. Cornette took her package and sent it to the network and they ran with it.

"That was kind of my first, 'OK. I can do this,'" Cornette told IndyStar in 2020.  

From there, Cornette built contacts when industry leaders would come to IU. She networked, landed an internship for MTV Networks and Showtime Networks in New York and was a production assistant for Chicago Bears games that were broadcast on CBS. 

After graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism and a kinesiology minor, Shae's sports broadcasting career took off.

"It was all because of IU," she said. "That's how it all started." 

"Shae is meticulous in her preparation, connects naturally with our show’s high-profile personalities, and has a unique ability to keep lively debate engaging and on point,” said David Roberts, ESPN executive vice president, executive editor, sports news and entertainment. “Her professionalism, presence, and energy make her an ideal fit for 'First Take' and a great addition to one of ESPN’s most successful franchises.”

Cornette is married to Jordan Cornette, a former Notre Dame basketball player and basketball analyst for CBS Sports.

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: [email protected].   

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IU grad Shae Cornette named host of ESPN's 'First Take' with Stephen A. Smith