Dario Melendez Biography
Dario Melendez is an Emmy Award winning sports journalist serving as the sports director on Channel 12 Milwaukee. He anchors sports coverage on WISN 12 News at 6 p.m., WISN 12 News at 9 p.m., WISN 12 News at 10 p.m., and during Big 12 Sports Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. In addition, he leads WISN 12’s sports programming involving the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers, and other sports and teams at the local and state levels.
He was introduced to journalism at Sacred Heart University when he took a required course for all communication majors, which entailed writing articles for the school’s newspaper, The Spectrum. He wrote for the sports section and took on the role of circulation manager before becoming a sports editor and eventually assistant editor-in-chief. Five years after his graduation he was an anchor for ESPN hit show Sports Center.
Dario Melendez Age
Dario is 38 years old, he was born on December 30, 1985. There is no public information about his family and he does not post them on his socials.
Dario Melendez Education
Melendez graduated from Sacred Heart University with a Bachelors degree in Media Studies. While there he was a Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Spectrum newspaper, President of the SPJ chapter as well as a member of the Sacred Heart Football team. He joined Sacred Heart mainly because of the location and because they said he could play for the Division I team.
In September 2022, he was honored at the first-ever Sacred Heart University Sports Communication Alumni Awards ceremony.
Dario Melendez Wife
Dario is married to ESPN anchor and reporter Jen Lada. Jen covers ESPN’s college football. She is also a host on the Jen, Gabe, and Chewy show for ESPN Radio in Milwaukee. In addition, she is also a contributor to other ESPN shows such as SC Featured, Outside the Lines, and E:60.
The couple also share two daughters; Layla and Keira and is a step-father to Jen’s son Chase from her first marriage.
Dario Melendez WISN 12
Dario joined WISN 12 in April 2022 as a sports director. He anchors WISN 12 News at 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and at 10 p.m., and during Big 12 Sports Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. His other roles includes leading WISN 12’s sports programming involving the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers, and other sports and teams at the local and state levels. Which includes Big 12 Sports specials on topics like the NFL Draft, pre- and post-game coverage, playoff and championship runs, as well as significant interviews with the most renowned names in sports.
He had previously worked at WISN-TV as a sports anchor and reporter (November 2010-February 2013) where he covered and reported on local, professional, colligate and high school athletics in and around the Milwaukee, Wis market (35).
Dario began his journalism career at The Spectrum newspaper as a Co editor-in-chief. He had previously interned at WPLG as well as at NBCSports.com. In October 2008, he joined WINK News as a sports anchor and reporter. He was also a radio personality at Fox Sports Radio, where he co-hosted the “College Tailgate” (9:00am-12:00pm, Saturday)& “Red Zone” (3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday) on FSR 1200/1460. Discussing local, national and international sports topics with co-hosts and local listeners from the Ft. Myers and Naples market.
In addition, he worked for ESPN as a SportsCenter anchor reporting for the “Worldwide Leader in Sports”. His other workplaces includes New York 1 News and Bally Sports North.
Dario Melendez Salary
Dario earns an annual base salary of $100,000 as a sports director on Channel 12 Milwaukee. He has also amassed an estimated net worth of $2 million.