A New Voice on the Sidelines
Caroline Pineda, a 2022 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, is set to become the network’s sideline reporter for four Fighting Irish football broadcasts this fall, beginning with the Sept. 6 showdown at Lambeau Field against Wisconsin.
She steps into the role vacated by Zora Stephenson, who anchored the sideline for three seasons, and will join veteran play‑by‑play duo Dan Hicks and former NFL coach Jason Garrett in the booth for the Wisconsin game and the afternoon contests that follow.
From Albuquerque to Lambeau Field
Pineda’s appointment is not just a professional milestone; it is a personal homecoming. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she spent countless Saturday afternoons watching NBC’s Notre Dame coverage with her mother, a fellow alum who still recalls the thrill of the 1990 championship run.
Her path to the broadcast booth was shaped by mentorship. While interning with the Washington Post sports department and serving as a sideline assistant on NBC’s Sunday Night NFL package, she worked closely with Kathryn Tappen and received guidance from Mike Tirico, who she cites as a pivotal influence.
Alex Flanagan, who held the same Notre Dame reporter seat from 2007 to 2013, inspired Pineda to pursue a career in sports media, and her recent collaborations with Flanagan on Notre Dame‑Syracuse broadcasts have reinforced that ambition.
Beyond the studio, Pineda’s experience as a sideline assistant to Kathryn Tappen and her hands‑on work with Zora Stephenson have equipped her with a deep understanding of the game’s nuances, a perspective she hopes to bring to viewers who are eager for fresh storytelling.
Fans can expect a blend of on‑field insight and personal connection as Pineda brings her own story — rooted in the Midwest, shaped by a love of the Fighting Irish, and guided by mentors who believed in her — to the broadcast table.