Behind every successful man stands a remarkable woman, and Holly Bankemper Collinsworth perfectly embodies this saying. As the wife of renowned NFL commentator Cris Collinsworth, Holly has built an impressive career as an attorney while raising four children and supporting her husband’s broadcasting journey.
With over 37 years of legal experience, Holly has established herself as a respected attorney in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, while maintaining a low profile despite her connection to sports broadcasting royalty.
Attorney Behind the Scenes
Holly Bankemper Collinsworth was born on November 23, 1964, in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, where she continues to practice law today. As a member of the Cincinnati Bar Association, she has built a solid reputation in general practice law spanning nearly four decades. While many know her as Cris Collinsworth’s wife, her professional accomplishments stand firmly on their merit.
What makes Holly particularly remarkable is her ability to balance a demanding legal career with family responsibilities. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1988, she returned to her hometown to establish her practice. Unlike many celebrity spouses who step away from their careers, Holly has consistently pursued her professional goals alongside supporting her family.
The attorney has earned respect within legal circles for her dedication to clients and ethical approach to law. Her commitment to maintaining a low public profile has allowed her to focus on what matters most: her practice, family, and community. This balance of professional achievement and personal priorities makes her story particularly relevant to working women today.
Early Career
Holly’s path to success began at Fort Thomas Highlands High School, where she showed early leadership qualities through activities like cheerleading. After high school, she attended the University of Kentucky, where she continued to develop her academic abilities and leadership skills before pursuing her law degree.
Her decision to attend the University of Cincinnati College of Law proved life-changing in more ways than one. Not only did it launch her legal career, but it also introduced her to her future husband, Cris Collinsworth. Holly earned her Juris Doctor in 1988, demonstrating her academic prowess and commitment to professional growth.
Following graduation, Holly returned to Fort Thomas to build her practice. Beginning a legal career requires persistence and dedication, qualities she demonstrated throughout her early professional years. As a new attorney, she worked diligently to establish herself in the local legal community, gradually building a client base and professional reputation.
The Love Story
The story of how Holly and Cris Collinsworth met showcases the role of chance in love. Their paths crossed at The Precinct, a popular restaurant and nightclub in Cincinnati that Cris partially owned. When friends introduced them, they had no idea this meeting would lead to a lifetime together. Interestingly, Cris’s friends played a prank, telling him Holly was a 30-year-old divorcee with two children—a story that amuses the couple to this day.
Despite this unusual introduction, the connection between Holly and Cris proved immediate and genuine. At the time, Holly was preparing to enter law school at the University of Cincinnati, while Cris was already established as a Cincinnati Bengals player. Their different worlds came together seamlessly, creating a foundation for their future relationship.
The couple’s engagement story adds another charming chapter to their romance. Cris proposed to Holly in 1988 during an MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati. On June 3, 1989, Holly and Cris exchanged vows, beginning a marriage that has lasted over three decades. Their wedding marked the start of a partnership that has weathered the demands of professional sports, broadcasting schedules, legal practice, and raising four children.
Family Life
Maintaining a 37-year legal career while raising four children requires exceptional organizational skills and dedication. Holly mastered this balance, continuing her law practice through the various stages of family life. Her ability to juggle court appearances, client meetings, and family responsibilities demonstrates remarkable time management and prioritization skills.
Holly’s professional journey coincided with Cris’s transition from NFL player to broadcaster, adding another layer of complexity to family life. As Cris’s broadcasting career demanded extensive travel, Holly provided stability at home while pursuing her own career goals. This arrangement required flexibility and mutual support, qualities the couple has cultivated throughout their marriage.
The decision to settle in Fort Thomas, near Holly’s parents and siblings, proved strategically beneficial for the family’s lifestyle. This proximity to extended family created a support network that helped balance professional demands with family needs. Cris has acknowledged this advantage, noting how valuable it’s been to have Holly’s family nearby during his frequent travels.
The Collinsworth Family
The Collinsworth household bustles with achievement, as Holly and Cris have raised four accomplished children who reflect their parents’ values. Katie, Austin, Ashley, and Jac each pursued their paths while maintaining the family’s tradition of excellence. Their diverse accomplishments speak to Holly and Cris’s parenting approach, which encouraged individual growth while instilling shared values.
Katie Collinsworth Hughes pursued a career in business marketing, working for Golf Channel’s GolfNow after graduating from the University of Florida. Austin Collinsworth followed in his father’s athletic footsteps, playing football at Notre Dame, where he served as team captain. After graduation, he transitioned to a career in digital media, demonstrating the family’s adaptability.
Ashley Collinsworth chose an academic path, attending Harvard University, where she excelled as a track athlete while pursuing her studies. Meanwhile, Jac Collinsworth most directly followed his father’s career path, joining NBC Sports as a broadcaster after covering Notre Dame football during his college years.
Community Involvement
Beyond her legal career and family responsibilities, Holly Bankemper Collinsworth actively contributes to her community through charitable work. Her involvement in local organizations reflects her commitment to giving back to the place she’s called home throughout her life. Rather than seeking recognition, Holly focuses on creating a meaningful impact through targeted philanthropy and community service.
The Cris Collinsworth ProScan Fund represents one of the couple’s most significant charitable endeavors. This nonprofit organization focuses on breast cancer awareness, education, and prevention, causes that affect many families. Holly serves on the board of this foundation, applying her legal expertise and organizational skills to advance its mission.
Education, health, and youth development initiatives particularly benefit from Holly’s attention. These focus areas reflect her values and priorities, addressing fundamental community needs. By concentrating on these sectors, she creates a lasting impact that strengthens the entire community, from children to seniors.
Life in Fort Thomas
When faced with the potential relocation to Los Angeles for Cris’s broadcasting career, the Collinsworths made a deliberate choice to remain in Fort Thomas. This decision prioritized family connections and community roots over the glamour of a major media market. Their beautiful home overlooking the Ohio River provides a peaceful retreat from Cris’s high-profile career while keeping them connected to their Kentucky heritage.
Holly’s close relationships with her parents and siblings significantly influenced this choice. Having family just minutes away created an invaluable support system, especially during football season when Cris travels extensively. This proximity allowed their children to grow up surrounded by extended family, creating a sense of belonging and stability despite their father’s demanding schedule.
Cris has shared his perspective on this choice, noting that his definition of success centers on family stability rather than career achievements. In a 2011 interview, he explained, “I consider the successful life for me to be: Am I married to the same woman that I married when I was 30 years old? Are my kids fairly normal and successful, and have an opportunity to do good things in their lives? That’s kind of it.”
Behind Every Successful Man
Holly’s support proved instrumental during Cris’s transition from NFL player to sports broadcaster. While both attended law school at the University of Cincinnati, their career paths diverged significantly. Cris quickly realized practicing law wasn’t his calling, while Holly embraced the legal profession. This early divergence set the pattern for their complementary professional journeys.
Throughout Cris’s broadcasting career, which has earned him 17 Sports Emmy Awards, Holly has provided essential stability at home. His role with NBC’s Sunday Night Football requires extensive travel during football season, often leaving Holly to manage household responsibilities alone. Her ability to maintain family life during these periods has allowed Cris to focus on his broadcasting excellence.
Cris has publicly acknowledged Holly’s crucial role in his success. In interviews, he’s praised her strength and capability in handling family responsibilities during his frequent absences. One particularly telling quote reveals his appreciation: “I have a really strong wife… It’s amazing all that she can handle, particularly with as much as I’m away from home.”
The Private Life
Despite her connection to a television personality, Holly deliberately maintains a low public profile. This preference for privacy stands out in an era of social media visibility and celebrity culture. Her absence from these platforms reflects a conscious choice to keep personal life separate from public attention, focusing instead on substance over visibility.
Holly’s approach to privacy extends to how she navigates public events with Cris. While she occasionally attends industry functions, she does so without seeking the spotlight. This measured approach allows her to support her husband’s career while preserving her own identity and privacy. Her comfort with this background role speaks to her secure sense of self and purpose.
The couple has developed effective strategies for maintaining normalcy despite Cris’s fame. By establishing clear boundaries between public and private life, they’ve created space for authentic family experiences away from media attention. This balance has allowed their children to develop their own identities without excessive public scrutiny.
Legacy and Impact
Holly’s professional achievements in the legal field represent a significant part of her legacy. With over 37 years of practice, she has built a career characterized by dedication and ethical standards. Her consistent commitment to her profession while balancing family responsibilities demonstrates values that transcend generations.
The family legacy Holly and Cris have created extends beyond professional accomplishments. Their four children’s success in various fields—from broadcasting to business, athletics to academics—reflects the strong foundation they provided. This family achievement stands as perhaps their most meaningful shared accomplishment, representing values passed from one generation to the next.
In Fort Thomas, Holly’s impact extends throughout the community she’s called home her entire life. Her local focus, both professionally and philanthropically, has strengthened connections and improved lives. While Cris’s influence spans national television, Holly’s more concentrated local impact has equal significance for those directly touched by her work and generosity.
