Neil Everett Morfitt (born 1961 or 1962)[1][2] is an American sportscaster. From 2007 until 2023, he was the co-anchor of the West Coast edition of SportsCenter alongside Stan Verrett.

Neil Everett
Everett in 2010
Born
Neil Everett Morfitt

1961 or 1962 (age 62–63)
EducationUniversity of Oregon
TitleSportsCenter Anchor

Early life and education

edit

Everett was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Spokane, Washington.[3] He was a varsity starter in football and basketball at Lewis and Clark High School,[4][5] named to the all-city team in football at guard,[6][7] and also played on the defensive line.[8] He graduated in 1980.[9]

Everett attended Willamette University in Salem before transferring to the University of Oregon in Eugene and graduated in 1984.[10]

Career

edit

Everett started out in broadcasting at KCST-FM in Florence on the central Oregon Coast, west of Eugene. He left the media field and moved to Hawaii,[11] where he worked 15 years as an athletic administrator at Hawaii Pacific University.[10] While still working full-time at HPU, Everett was hired at local ABC affiliate KITV, first as a news writer, then assignment editor, and finally as a sports anchor.[12]

In April 1999, Everett interviewed with ESPN on the recommendation of a friend, but was not hired. The following year, ESPN called him for another audition, and this time he was hired as an anchor on ESPNews.[13] In March 2009, he relocated to California to anchor the late-night Los Angeles edition of SportsCenter, which debuted on April 6, 2009.

On June 8, 2023, Everett announced that he was leaving ESPN and SportsCenter after 23 years.[14]

Personal life

edit

While he was a student at Oregon in 1983, Everett's mother Jackie, a high school teacher, died from cancer at age 45.[15] The use of his middle name as a professional surname is a tribute to his mother, a UO alumna and Astoria native, who would call him by his first and middle name when his behavior was less than optimal.[4][10]

Everett's stepfather, Dave Robertson, was a longtime high school basketball coach at Shadle Park and won the state title in 1981,[16] led on the court by Mark Rypien.[4][17] A math teacher, Robertson later coached at Gonzaga Prep.[18]

References

edit
  1. ^ Borsch, Ferd (May 12, 1998). "Switch of Venues in Its 51st Year Begins New Era". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. D4. Among the younger members is Neil Everett Morfitt, 36...
  2. ^ "Neil Everett Morfitt: 2020 Hall of Achievement Inductee". University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. Retrieved August 3, 2022. Neil Everett Morfitt joined ESPN in July 2000 as an anchor for ESPNEWS and SportsCenter.
  3. ^ "LC Grad Everett to Continue as Anchor on SportsCenter". The Spokesman-Review. July 6, 2021. p. B4. Born in Portland, Oregon as Neil Everett Morfitt, he grew up in Spokane...
  4. ^ a b c Degerman, Eric (December 24, 2003). "Spokane's ever-so-smooth Everett excels on ESPN". Tri-City Herald. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  5. ^ "Bench-warmer saluted". Spokane Daily Chronicle. February 5, 1979. p. 18.
  6. ^ Goodwin, Dale (November 18, 1979). "Stars: GSL had super players, if not super teams". Spokesman-Review. p. C4.
  7. ^ Derrick, Merle (November 27, 1979). "Mark Rypien, Martin top Chronicle all-city". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 25.
  8. ^ "Panther on the loose". Spokesman-Review. photo. October 20, 1979. p. 20.
  9. ^ Pignolet, Jennifer (April 30, 2013). "Spokane native Neil Everett steps up". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c Eggers, Kerry (January 17, 2013). "This is Neil Everett: from Oregon to ESPN". Portland Tribune. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  11. ^ "Morfitt-Gullickson". Spokesman-Review. June 28, 1990. p. C10.
  12. ^ Steve Murray (February 6, 2013). "Representing The 808". Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  13. ^ Paul Arnett (May 17, 2000). "Everett leaving islands for job with ESPN". Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  14. ^ McCarthy, Michael (June 8, 2023). "'SportsCenter' Anchor Neil Everett Leaving ESPN After 23 Years". Front Office Sports. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Jacqueline K. Robertson". Spokane Chronicle. October 22, 1983. p. 6.
  16. ^ Derrick, Merle (March 16, 1981). "Just the facts: Shadle Park is No. 1". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 17.
  17. ^ Blanchette, John (October 6, 2009). "GSL coaching legend dies". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  18. ^ Weaver, Dan (June 4, 1988). "Robertson can't wait for another court challenge". Spokesman-Review. p. B1.
edit