You see her every Sunday on the sidelines, mic in hand, dodging 300-pound linemen while breaking down a Red Zone play. Most fans just assume she's a product of the bright lights of Los Angeles or maybe the concrete jungle of New York. Honestly, the answer to where is Erin Andrews from isn't as simple as a single city on a map. She’s a bit of a geographic hybrid, though if you ask her, she’ll probably tell you she’s a "sun-worshipping Florida girl" at heart.
It all actually started way up North. Andrews was born on May 4, 1978, in Lewiston, Maine. That’s right—the face of NFL sidelines began her journey in a quiet New England town. Her mother, Paula, was a teacher, and her father, Steven, was an investigative journalist. That journalism bug clearly didn't fall far from the tree, but the Maine chapter was short-lived.
Moving South: The San Antonio and Valrico Years
By the time she was five, the family packed up for San Antonio, Texas. They stayed there for about 18 months before making the move that would basically define the rest of her life. They landed in Valrico, Florida, a suburb of Tampa. This wasn't just a random move; her father, Steven Andrews, had landed a job as an investigative reporter for WFLA-TV, the local NBC affiliate. He went on to win six Emmys, so the bar for storytelling in that house was pretty high from the start.
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Growing up in Valrico, Andrews was a self-described tomboy. She wasn't exactly hanging out at the mall with a huge group of girlfriends. Instead, she was obsessed with the Boston Celtics and the Red Sox, bonding with her dad over games. You’ve probably seen her on Dancing with the Stars, but that grace actually started at the Brandon School of Dance Arts in Seffner, Florida. She was a member of the dance team at Bloomingdale High School, where she also juggled student government and the National Honor Society.
The University of Florida Era
When it came time for college, Andrews had a very specific, and somewhat hilarious, requirement. She told her parents she wanted to go somewhere with a great football team. Her logic was brilliant: if the team was good, the major networks like ESPN and CBS would always be on campus. She wanted to be where the action was.
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She chose the University of Florida in Gainesville.
It wasn't a total slam dunk at first. She’s admitted in interviews that her grades weren't quite high enough for fall admission, so she started in the summer of 1997. She eventually earned her spot on the Florida Gators Dazzlers dance team, though she actually didn't make the cut her freshman year. She tried again as a sophomore and spent three seasons (1997–2000) performing on the sidelines where she would one day report.
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Career Beginnings in the Sunshine State
After graduating in 2000 with a degree in telecommunications, the transition to professional life wasn't instant. She was unemployed for a few months—her mom even suggested she get a job at Outback Steakhouse to pay the bills. But she stayed focused on the Florida market. Her first real break was as a freelance reporter for Fox Sports Florida.
From there, she covered the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Sunshine Network between 2001 and 2002. Even though she eventually moved to Atlanta to cover the Braves and Hawks for Turner South, and later moved to Los Angeles for the big Fox Sports and ESPN gigs, she remains deeply connected to her Florida upbringing. Her parents still live in the same house in the Tampa area they moved into when she was a kid.
Fast Facts About Her Origins
- Birthplace: Lewiston, Maine
- High School: Bloomingdale High School (Valrico, FL)
- College: University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
- First Pro Job: Fox Sports Florida (Freelance)
She might live in a massive Los Angeles home now with her husband, Jarret Stoll, but the "grits-loving" Florida identity is still there. She's often seen frequenting local Tampa spots like La Teresita when she's back in town.
If you’re looking to follow in her footsteps, the best move is to look at her college strategy. She didn't just study journalism; she put herself in a "real-world" environment by choosing a school that was a hub for national media. You can start by researching top-tier telecommunications programs that have strong partnerships with local or national sports networks. If you're a student, look into summer admission programs or internships at local affiliates like WFLA, just like she did.