Holly Bankemper Collinsworth is an American attorney best known publicly as the longtime wife of former NFL player and sports broadcaster Cris Collinsworth. However, her own story includes a professional legal career, strong ties to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and years of community involvement. Holly and Cris met in Cincinnati during the 1980s and married in 1989. They later welcomed four children: Katie, Austin, Ashley, and Jac. While Cris built a highly visible career in football and television, Holly maintained a quieter professional and family life. Their marriage has lasted for more than three decades, making their relationship a notable part of the Collinsworth family story.
Personal Details
| Personal Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Holly Bankemper Collinsworth |
| Known As | Holly Bankemper |
| Nationality | American |
| Hometown | Fort Thomas, Kentucky, USA |
| Profession | Attorney |
| High School | Highlands High School |
| Undergraduate Education | University of Kentucky |
| Law School | University of Cincinnati College of Law |
| Law Degree | Earned in 1988 |
| Spouse | Cris Collinsworth |
| Marriage Year | 1989 |
| Children | Katie, Austin, Ashley, and Jac Collinsworth |
| Known For | Attorney and wife of Cris Collinsworth |
| Community Involvement | Cris Collinsworth ProScan Fund and local causes |
| Current Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Who Is Holly Bankemper?
Holly Bankemper, also known as Holly Collinsworth, is a Kentucky attorney and the wife of Cris Collinsworth. She comes from Fort Thomas, a community in northern Kentucky near Cincinnati, Ohio. Unlike her husband, Holly has never pursued a career based on television or celebrity attention. She instead entered the legal profession and built much of her adult life around law, family, and community involvement. Her marriage naturally brought her into the sports world, especially as Cris moved from playing professional football to broadcasting. Still, Holly has maintained an identity outside her husband’s fame through her legal career and connections to her hometown.
Holly Bankemper’s Early Life in Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Holly grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and has maintained a close connection with the community throughout her adult life. She attended Highlands High School, where she was involved in cheerleading. Her ties to the school continued long after graduation. In 2019, Highlands High School recognized her as its Alumnus of the Year, reflecting her involvement with the community that helped shape her early life. Unlike many celebrity spouses, Holly did not leave her hometown roots behind after becoming connected to a famous athlete. She and Cris eventually made Fort Thomas their home, allowing their own children to grow up with strong connections to the same area.
Holly Bankemper’s Education and Law School Years
Education became an important part of Holly’s path toward an independent professional career. She attended the University of Kentucky for her undergraduate studies and was a cheerleader there. She later entered the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Holly completed her law degree in 1988, the same year Cris finished his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Interestingly, Cris later attended the same law school and earned his own law degree in 1991, although he chose broadcasting rather than legal practice. Holly took the opposite route and developed a career as an attorney. Her education therefore became the foundation for a profession she maintained while raising their family.
Holly Bankemper’s Career as an Attorney
Holly built a career in law after completing her legal education in 1988. She has practiced in Kentucky and has been described as a general-practice attorney based in Fort Thomas. PEOPLE also identifies her as a member of the Cincinnati Bar Association. Her professional path stands apart from the football and broadcasting careers that made her husband nationally famous. Although Holly has occasionally appeared at events with Cris, she has not used their marriage to establish a media career of her own. Her work as an attorney provides an important part of her biography and shows why describing her only as Cris Collinsworth’s wife leaves out a significant part of her adult life.
How Did Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth Meet?
Holly and Cris Collinsworth met in Cincinnati during the 1980s. At the time, Cris was playing wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, while Holly was preparing to begin law school. Their meeting took place at The Precinct, a well-known Cincinnati restaurant in which Cris had an ownership interest. According to an account Cris later gave to Cincinnati Magazine, Holly visited the restaurant for dinner and mutual friends helped introduce them. Their relationship developed from there. The timing placed their romance near a major transition for both of them: Holly was beginning her legal career, while Cris was approaching the final years of his successful professional football career.
Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth’s Relationship
Holly and Cris developed their relationship while balancing very different professional demands. Cris was an established NFL player, while Holly was focused on completing law school. Their romance became serious enough that Cris decided to propose in 1988. His original idea was far more public than the proposal that eventually happened. He considered proposing during the MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati and explored whether the moment could appear on the stadium’s video board. That plan never happened. Cris later joked that Holly would have disliked such a public proposal. Instead, he proposed more privately on a bridge over the Ohio River, and the couple began planning their future together.
Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth’s Wedding
Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth married in 1989, one year after Holly completed law school and Cris retired from the NFL. Their wedding marked the beginning of a marriage that has continued for more than three decades. Cris was moving into a new stage of life after eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, while Holly was beginning her career as an attorney. They eventually established their family in the Fort Thomas area rather than building their home around the entertainment centers associated with Cris’ broadcasting career. Over the years, their marriage expanded to include four children and a shared commitment to family and community activities in northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.
Who Is Holly Bankemper’s Husband, Cris Collinsworth?
Cris Collinsworth is a former professional football player who became one of America’s best-known NFL broadcasters. He played college football at the University of Florida before the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the 1981 NFL Draft. As a wide receiver, Cris spent his entire eight-season NFL career with Cincinnati and appeared in two Super Bowls. After retiring following the 1988 season, he moved into sports broadcasting. His television career eventually included prominent work covering the NFL and numerous Sports Emmy Awards. Cris also earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1991, but broadcasting became his main profession rather than legal practice.
Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth’s Four Children
Holly and Cris are the parents of four children: Katie, Austin, Ashley, and Jac Collinsworth. Their children grew up around sports but did not all choose identical career paths. Austin played college football at Notre Dame, while Jac eventually followed his father into sports broadcasting. Ashley attended Harvard University and competed in track and field. Katie entered the television and media business from the production and business side, including work connected with Golf Channel. Education has also been a common theme across the family. The four siblings attended major universities and later established careers reflecting interests ranging from athletics and broadcasting to business and media.
Jac Collinsworth and His Sports Broadcasting Career
Jac Collinsworth followed the most recognizable version of his father’s career path. After attending Notre Dame, he entered sports media and developed experience both in front of the camera and as a reporter. He worked for ESPN before returning to NBC Sports in 2020. His assignments have included Football Night in America, Notre Dame football, and other major sporting events. Jac’s broadcasting career has naturally led to comparisons with Cris, but he has developed his own experience across several sports and formats. Growing up with a nationally known broadcaster gave him an unusual view of the profession, while his education and early media work helped him establish credentials of his own.
Austin Collinsworth and His Football Background
Austin Collinsworth also followed the family’s strong connection to football, although his path eventually moved toward business. He played safety at Notre Dame and became a team captain during his college career. Injuries affected his time on the field, but Austin completed his education and later moved into the business side of sports. He became an executive at Pro Football Focus, the football analytics company closely associated with his father. His career therefore combines experience as a former player with work involving football information and analysis. Unlike Jac, Austin did not pursue broadcasting. Instead, he found a professional role that kept him connected to the sport through management and sports analytics.
Ashley and Katie Collinsworth
Holly and Cris’ daughters, Ashley and Katie, have pursued paths outside professional football. Ashley attended Harvard University, where she competed in track and field and studied psychology. Her athletic experience continued the strong sporting tradition within the family without taking her into football. Katie attended the University of Florida and moved into television-related work behind the scenes. She has worked with organizations including CBS and Golf Channel, connecting her career indirectly to the media world familiar to her father and brother Jac. Both daughters have maintained lower public profiles than Cris. Their experiences nevertheless demonstrate that the Collinsworth family’s interests extend beyond playing and commenting on professional football.
Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth’s Community and Charity Work
Community involvement has been another important part of Holly and Cris’ life together. In 2002, they co-founded the Cris Collinsworth ProScan Fund. The organization has supported initiatives related to breast cancer awareness and other community programs, including youth development through chess. Holly has also remained involved with institutions in her hometown. Her former school recognized her as Highlands High School’s Alumnus of the Year in 2019. These activities show a side of her life that exists beyond law and her husband’s broadcasting career. Rather than building a celebrity platform, Holly has maintained much of her public involvement through local causes and organizations connected to the Cincinnati and northern Kentucky region.
Holly Bankemper’s Life in Fort Thomas
Fort Thomas has remained central to Holly’s story from childhood into adulthood. She grew up there, attended Highlands High School, and later established her legal career in the area. Holly and Cris also chose to raise their family in northern Kentucky rather than relocating permanently to a larger entertainment market for his television career. That decision gave their children a stable home while Cris traveled regularly for broadcasting assignments. Their connection to Fort Thomas also supported Holly’s continuing involvement in local community activities. For someone married to a nationally recognized sports personality, her life has remained unusually rooted in the community where she spent her own formative years.
Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth’s Marriage Today
Holly and Cris remain married more than three decades after their 1989 wedding. Their relationship has lasted through major changes in both their careers and family life, from Cris’ retirement as an NFL player to his rise as a prominent broadcaster. They have also watched their four children graduate from college and establish adult careers. Cris has spoken positively about the importance of maintaining his marriage and family relationships despite the travel and demands associated with broadcasting. Holly continues to appear with him occasionally, but neither has made their marriage a constant subject of publicity. Their long partnership remains one of the best-documented aspects of Holly’s personal life.
Where Is Holly Bankemper Now?
Holly Bankemper continues to be associated with Fort Thomas, Kentucky, where she has longstanding family, professional, and community ties. Recent reporting continues to identify her as an attorney and Cris Collinsworth’s wife. She remains considerably less visible than her husband and son Jac, whose broadcasting careers regularly place them on national television. Holly does not depend on a public social-media identity or frequent interviews to maintain her professional profile. Instead, the available record emphasizes her legal work, community involvement, marriage, and family. After decades connected to the sports world, she has managed to remain publicly recognizable while keeping many details of her everyday personal life private.
Conclusion
Holly Bankemper’s story reaches beyond her familiar description as Cris Collinsworth’s wife. Raised in Fort Thomas, she studied law, graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1988, and established herself as an attorney. She met Cris while he was playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, married him in 1989, and together they raised Katie, Austin, Ashley, and Jac. Their children later developed successful careers across sports, broadcasting, business, and media. Holly has also remained connected to charitable and community work in her home region. Her life combines a long professional career, a lasting marriage, strong hometown roots, and a preference for relative privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Holly Bankemper?
Holly Bankemper Collinsworth is an American attorney and the longtime wife of former NFL player and sports broadcaster Cris Collinsworth. She grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, studied law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and built a legal career while maintaining a relatively private public profile.
How did Holly Bankemper meet Cris Collinsworth?
Holly met Cris Collinsworth during the 1980s at The Precinct, a Cincinnati restaurant in which Cris had an ownership interest. Mutual friends helped introduce them. At the time, Cris was playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, while Holly was preparing for her legal education and career.
When did Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth get married?
Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth married in 1989. Their wedding came shortly after Cris retired from professional football and Holly completed law school. Their marriage has lasted for more than three decades, during which they have raised four children and remained closely connected to northern Kentucky.
How many children do Holly Bankemper and Cris Collinsworth have?
Holly and Cris Collinsworth have four children: Katie, Austin, Ashley, and Jac Collinsworth. Austin played football at Notre Dame, while Jac entered sports broadcasting. Ashley attended Harvard and competed in track and field, while Katie pursued work connected with television and media.
What does Holly Bankemper do for a living?
Holly Bankemper is an attorney. She earned her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1988 and has practiced law in Kentucky. She has also participated in community and charitable activities, including initiatives associated with the Cris Collinsworth ProScan Fund.
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