Colton Shone KOB-TV: Bio, Age, Career, Family, Net Worth & 2026 Updates

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Colton Shone was born on a sunny spring morning in Phoenix, Arizona, and the desert heat must have planted a love for outdoor sports early on. Growing up in a tight-knit family, he spent weekends glued to Suns basketball or Cardinals football broadcasts, mimicking the anchors and dreaming of one day telling the stories of athletes himself. By middle school, he was already the go-to kid for the school’s morning announcements, and it was clear the camera liked him.

He graduated from Desert Vista High School in 2010, where he played baseball and wrote for the student newspaper. That mix of playing and reporting gave him a rare dual lens on sports—he understood both the pressure on the field and the craft of telling the story. For college, he stayed close to home and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University in 2014. During his time at ASU, he interned at local Phoenix stations and built a demo reel that still lands him jobs today.

Career Journey

If you tuned into Albuquerque sports anytime after 2018, you’ve likely seen Colton Shone’s name flash across your screen. His career didn’t start there, though—it began in the trenches of small-market TV where hard work pays off in raw experience.

Early Days in Yuma & El Paso

Right after college, Colton packed his bags for Yuma, Arizona, taking a position as a weekend sports anchor and reporter at KYMA-TV. The market was tiny, but the grind was real: he shot his own highlights, edited on a tight deadline, and often turned multiple stories in a single day. That two-year stint built the foundation for everything that followed. In 2016, he moved up to KVIA-TV in El Paso, Texas, where he covered the Sun Bowl, UTEP football, and borderland high school rivalries. His coverage of the 2017 Sun Bowl earned him an Associated Press award—the first hardware of what would become a growing collection.

Joining KOB-TV (2018–2023)

In April 2018, Colton Shone joined KOB-TV in Albuquerque as a sports reporter and anchor. The station, an NBC affiliate, serves one of the most passionate sports markets in the Southwest, and Colton quickly became a familiar face. From covering UNM Lobos basketball to Friday Night Football, he built a reputation for energetic, people-first storytelling. His weekly segment “Shone’s Spotlight” highlighted unsung high school athletes and aired throughout the pandemic, keeping local sports alive when in-person attendance vanished.

Rise to Sports Director & 2026 Ventures

By early 2024, Colton was promoted to Sports Director, overseeing the entire sports department. That same year, he launched a podcast—“Above the Rim Podcast”—that now ranks in the top 5% of sports news podcasts on Spotify. In 2025, he began contributing monthly columns to the Albuquerque Journal, blending analysis with behind-the-scenes scoops. As of 2026, Colton Shone remains a staple of evening news in New Mexico, while also testing the waters of digital media with a YouTube channel that already has 15K subscribers. He’s covered two Super Bowls (in 2023 and 2026), and his 2026 feature on a local boxing gym’s youth program went viral, racking up over 2 million views on KOB’s Facebook page.

Personal Life

Off-camera, Colton keeps things simple. He married his college sweetheart, Rachel, in 2018 at a small outdoor ceremony in Sedona. The couple welcomed a son in 2021, and the boy is already showing an interest in catching a football. The Shone family lives in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, where they’re active in their church and frequently host Sunday football watch parties.

Colton is an avid golfer—he carries a 9 handicap and plays in charity tournaments whenever his schedule allows. He’s also a volunteer coach for the local Boys & Girls Club basketball team, something he’s done since 2020. In the rare moments he’s not working or on a field, you’ll find him hiking the Sandia trails with his dog, a golden retriever named “Pick Six.”

Family Tree

• Father: Mark Shone (retired high school teacher)
• Mother: Linda Shone (registered nurse)
• Siblings: One younger sister, Sarah (a graphic designer in Phoenix)
• Spouse: Rachel Shone (elementary school teacher)
• Child: Wyatt Shone (born 2021)

Dating History / Relationships

Colton has kept his romantic life quiet. He dated casually in college, but no other public relationships are known before Rachel. The pair met during a journalism event at ASU and started dating in 2013. They’ve been together ever since, with no hint of controversy.

Awards & Achievements

• Associated Press Award – Feature Reporting (2017, El Paso)
• New Mexico Broadcasters Association – Best Sportscast (2021, 2023, 2025)
• Emmy® Nomination – Sports Feature – “Friday Night Lights After COVID” (2022)
• KOB-TV Employee of the Year (2024)
• Albuquerque 40 Under 40 – Sports & Media Category (2025)
• Top 5% Podcast Ranking – “Above the Rim Podcast” (Spotify, 2026)

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“I don’t just cover games; I want to tell the stories that happen after the buzzer. The kid who got cut, the coach who never gave up—that’s where the real sport is.” – Colton Shone, interview with Albuquerque the Magazine (2024)

“My first live shot in Yuma, I forgot to plug in the mic. I looked like a deer in headlights. You learn from those moments, and you never let them happen twice.” – Colton Shone, on his YouTube channel (2025)

“I’ve always believed that if you treat high school football like the NFL, your audience will treat it like the Super Bowl. That’s the magic of broadcasting.” – Panel interview, NMBA Conference (2026)

Controversies

Colton Shone has managed to keep a squeaky-clean public image. In 2023, a minor stir erupted on social media when he jokingly called the UNM Lobos “the best 3-9 team in the country,” but the comment was taken in stride by fans and players alike. No legal or ethical issues have shadowed his career.

Favorites

• Food: Green chile cheeseburger (a New Mexico staple)
• Sport to Watch: College basketball
• Movie: “Remember the Titans”
• Book: “The Sports Gene” by David Epstein
• Musician: The Killers
• Vacation Spot: Lake Tahoe
• Sports Team: Phoenix Suns

Salary & Net Worth (2026)

As a sports director at a top-50 market television station, Colton Shone earns an estimated annual salary between $85,000 and $110,000. That puts him comfortably in the mid-range for local TV talent. In addition to his station work, his podcast sponsorship deals, Albuquerque Journal columns, and paid speaking engagements bring in an extra $20,000–$30,000 per year. Factoring in those revenue streams and his steady investment in a retirement fund and a mutual fund portfolio, his net worth is estimated at $1.2 million in 2026. That figure may rise if his digital media presence continues to grow at its current pace.

Interesting Facts

• He once filled in as a weather anchor during a blizzard and called it “the most terrifying ten minutes on live TV.”
• He has a superstition: he never ties the right shoe before the left on a game broadcast day.
• His mother tried to get him into piano lessons as a kid, but he spent more time watching ESPN than practicing scales.
• He won a local Phoenix spelling bee in 5th grade, a clue that words always came easily to him.
• During the pandemic lockdown, he taught himself basic video game streaming and played “Madden NFL” with viewers on Twitch for charity.
• He’s a licensed drone pilot and occasionally captures aerial b-roll for his own stories, which saves the station time and money.

Did You Know Already?

Colton Shone’s first ever on-air segment was a 45-second report on a high school volleyball team—and he was so nervous he forgot the team’s name halfway through. The coach sent him a fruit basket the next day as a good-natured joke. That fruit basket still sits (or a photo of it) on his desk as a reminder to stay humble.

Social Media Links

• Twitter / X: @ColtonShone
• Instagram: @coltonshone
• LinkedIn: Colton Shone
• YouTube: ColtonShoneTV
• Facebook: Colton Shone KOB

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Colton Shone been at KOB-TV?

He joined the station in April 2018, so by August 2026, that’s over 8 years. He became sports director in 2024.

What is Colton Shone’s age?

Born on May 10, 1992, he is 34 years 3 months old old in 2026. (The shortcode will calculate the exact age.)

Is Colton Shone married?

Yes, he has been married to Rachel Shone since 2018. They have one son, Wyatt.

What is Colton Shone’s net worth in 2026?

His estimated net worth is $1.2 million, coming from his TV salary, podcast, column work, and investments.

What are Colton Shone’s hobbies?

He loves golfing, hiking with his golden retriever, coaching youth basketball, and hosting game-day watch parties.

Where did Colton Shone go to college?

He earned a Bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School.

Conclusion

Colton Shone’s career is a textbook example of how small-market grit can lead to a thriving, connected life in local journalism. By staying genuine and betting on the power of community sport, he’s become a household name in New Mexico. If you’ve enjoyed this Colton Shone biography, please share it with a friend who loves local sports—or drop a comment with your favorite moment from his broadcasts. More stories are always in the pipeline, and sharing helps others discover the people behind the screen.