You may have heard her. You may have seen her... But one thing for sure.. You won't forget her. Sara Dayley is a mainstay in the St. Louis area and soon to be a voice and personality nationally within the radio and television industry. She is bound for greatness with her magnetic personality. Her work creates awareness that captures & draws attention.
Sara Dayley began her quest for the life she currently leads by graduating from Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri. Soon after, Dayley graduated from University of Tampa, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications with a Minor in Sports Studies. While at Tampa, Sara interned at the local NBS affiliate, WFLA, covering the Rays Spring Training, Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers, high school football and Tampa sports. Little did she know, it was radio that would eventually bring her back to St. Louis.
In 2005, Dayley took the job of Director of Media Operations with the Rockford Lightning in Rockford, Illinois. A short time later she was drawn back to her roots in the St. Louis area chasing her passion and gaining an interview with Simmons Media that would lead her to a job within the realm of ESPN Radio. She was hired immediately as the Promotions and Marketing Director of ESPN 1380 in St. Louis. While there, Dayley was in charge of promotions including Final Four, Commercial Traffic and Sports Desk Updates as well as marketing the station during the 2006 Cardinals Playoffs (another passion as her father, Ken Dayley is a former Cardinals pitcher). Dayley also spent time on the side shooting print ads, industrial style videos and one of her first roles as host on "Show of Faith" airing locally on EWTN.
At that point, Dayley caught the fever and wanted more. Her passion for radio and TV, now lead her into a new chapter. In June 2007 she received a call that would soon land her a role on "Mayhem in AM" on 590 The Fan KFNS. With this bigger role in the show, she was again going down a road of passion and making progress. She didn't stop there...
In the spring of 2008, Dayley continued to pursue the one passion that eluded her, television. The time arrived and she was ready. Feld Entertainment's Monster Jam Series found her and put her on tour with Monster Jam, with the programs airing SPEED. She made such an impression on the producer that she also started working in the fall of 2008 on the IHRA Nitro Jam TV programs that also aired on SPEED TV.
In September 2008, Dayley was recognized and asked to be part of an hour program on ESPN News as part of live quad split screen broadcast regarding NASCAR topics. Just another step and gaining more respect from industry people. Later that September, she was called to her first national role as the pit reporter on the CBS Sports Spectacular of the Rockstar Energy Dink US Open, taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. "Supercross is an amazing sport and I was extremely fortunate to be able to cover something that truly intrigues me," Dayley said. "I just take each opportunity and give it 110%, all I have is all I give".
At this point, Dayley was balancing the travel for her television career on the weekends, maintaining her on the air presence with 590 The Fan weekdays and still capitalizing on other media outlets that would take her to the next level. That September, she was called to her first national role as the pit reporter on the CBS Sports Spectacular of the Rockstar Energy Dink US Open, taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. "Supercross is an amazing sport and I was extremely fortunate to be able to cover something that truly intrigues me," Dayley said. "I just take each opportunity and give it 110%, all I have is all I give".
As the 2008 year came to a close so did her career at KFNS, now moving to 101 ESPN as the morning sportscenter update anchor, during Mike & Mike and the local mid-day show, Paris and Burwell. The new stations and team launched on January 1st, 2009.
Starting that January as well, Dayley also followed her passion to be successful in TV and accepted a larger role in the Monster Jam Television Series on SPEED. She soon began traveling across the nation as the on-camera pit reporter, followed up with the opportunity with a role on the IHRA Nitro Jam series. Determined to take television head on, Dayley then left 101 ESPN and went on to lock in the hosting role of "STL Football Sunday” LIVE on Fox Sports Midwest, as well as the sideline reporter for both girls and boys, Class 4 and 5 Missouri State High School Basketball Championships.
Following football season, Dayley caught the attention of many corporate producers and started filming industrials, commercials and webinars developing into yet another strong role she holds on camera. In May 2010, yet another door was opened and she rose to the occasion. In conjunction with Newave Productions, Sara was back at the track and in studio as the host of, "The American Drag Racing Leagues 2010 Season Series”, airing on MavTv. That same year, Dayley also jumped in the cage as a reporter for the, "Fight Me MMA” broadcast on MavTv and soon after was privileged with the opportunity to do sidelines for the Missouri Valley Football Conference airing on Fox Sports Midwest.
"All the different types of jobs I have had the incredible opportunity to do, has in some way encouraged me and given me more reassurance that this is what I want to do forever. Everyone has their moments where you second guess yourself and that time between those thoughts now is dramatically longer. I had an absolute blast doing all that I do and never once have I thought about going a different direction. The only direction I’m willing to go is up!"
It has been a long and fast road for Sara and she is always looking for the next challenge. However, she always remains focused with the task at hand. During her pursuit and career path Sara met her fiancé, Chris Turley, and the two will be wed in November of 2010. She has been involved with many aspects within her realm including; sports anchoring on CW-11 in St. Louis, misc local and national print campaigns including the Veterans Administration, Four Season Hotels and Subaru.
The hardest thing for Sara Dayley to do is - Nothing. When she is not pursuing her career goals, you can find her relaxing at home, working out at the gym, or taking in a movie with Chris. Downtown between the two of them is few and far between but when available, they take full advantage. Dayley is also the oldest of five amazingly talented siblings that are residing around the country, but does not pass on any time to spend with them.
Sara will always hold the drive to be successful, looking for the next task, on the chase for that next big step. Following her dreams, she will not settle until she finds that. The question is, Will she and how will she know when she gets there? As stated earlier, Dayley is someone that once you've heard or seen, you will never forget.
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