Sportscaster Dan Hicks, who was the voice of golf, Olympic swimming and Notre Dame football during his 35-year career at NBC Sports, has died, his family and NBC announced Thursday. He was 64 years old.
Hicks died Wednesday evening in Connecticut. He died after an acute illness, according to his wife, Hannah Storm.
“Our family is heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan,” Storm said in a statement. “He was a devoted husband for over 30 years, a loving father to our three daughters and a cherished friend to so many. His loss is immeasurable.
“Dan was truly one of a kind and, quite simply, the person everyone wanted to be with. When he walked into a room, he brought together energy, laughter and people. He was endlessly kind, caring and funny, and he made everyone feel like they mattered.”
Hicks was best known as the lead announcer for golf, as well as swimming and ski in the Olympics and Notre Dame football. He joined NBC in 1992 after three years at CNN.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to be in one place for this long. It takes a lot for NBC to continue to own the properties that I’ve been a part of over the years,” he said at a news conference. Interview with the Associated Press in September. “There are so many variables, so many things that can happen in your career. But I think I enjoy it more and more the longer it goes on.”
Hicks’ favorite sport was golf
Hicks was on track for 27 tournament wins per Tiger Woods, including three at the US Open. He served as a tower announcer from 1995 to 1999 before becoming lead voice in 2000.
“He was a great quarterback, a leader. If you listen to his show, to me he was great at passing the ball,” NBC golf commentator Roger Maltbie said. “He always had a question. He always engaged you. That’s a big part of the job.”
Hicks has called 27 US Opens and 23 US Women’s Opens. USGA CEO Mike Whan said in a statement that Hicks “was a true friend of the game and the USGA, but more importantly, a wonderful person whose warmth, generosity and friendship touched all who were fortunate enough to know him.”
Hicks also called Ryder Cup, British Open and PGA Tour events, including the Players Championship.
“Dan’s voice has filled our living rooms with his constant narration of countless golf broadcasts, calling some of the game’s greatest moments,” the PGA Tour said in a statement. “The sound of his voice is ingrained in our memories of the game, and the warmth he brought to the broadcast was matched only by the kindness he showed to those around him.”
One of NBC’s most versatile Olympic announcers
Hicks has competed in a total of 16 Olympic Games – nine summer and seven winter – the first being the 1992 Barcelona Games as host of the Olympic Triple Broadcast.
“Dan Hicks was an extraordinary colleague, friend and person,” Rick Cordella, Sam Flood and Molly Solomon of NBC Sports said in a statement. “He was an exceptional storyteller and host of games and events that elevated some of the greatest moments in sports history.”
Hicks has called swimming in the Olympics eight times with Rowdy Gaines. The duo chronicled Michael Phelps’ eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and Katie Ledecky’s 14 medals over four Olympics (2012-24).
“My heart is broken. Danny wasn’t just my partner in the booth for eight Olympics. He was one of my closest friends, someone I trusted with everything, both in and out of that arena. He was the glue that held us all together through all of those Games,” Gaines posted on social media. “He made me laugh like no one ever did. We shared thousands of races and a friendship that went far beyond the pool. I will miss his voice, his stability and just having him by my side.”
Hicks was present in alpine skiing at the last four Winter Games as well as speed skating in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
Two-time Olympic champion Ted Ligety, who was an alpine skiing analyst for NBC during the last two Olympics, said Hicks excelled at calling races, but also at telling athletes’ stories.
“I was always impressed with his ability to know so much about so many sports so fluidly. And his curiosity, he never came with the idea that he knew what was going on – he asked a million questions and was really curious. He was able to instantly bring that into the show,” Ligety said. “It’s fun to sit next to someone and watch him do his craft at such a high level. Beyond that, it’s just fun to sit next to him and be with him and after a call, share a beer. He’s just a really fun, great guy. What’s amazing is that his on-air personality and likeability were even greater in real life.”
Two passes to call Notre Dame football
This was Hicks’ seventh season calling games for Notre Dame, from which his wife graduated in 1983. He did so from 2013 to 2016 before returning in 2024. Hicks was scheduled to call for the Fighting Irish’s game Saturday against Boston College.
Notre Dame athletic director and former NBC Sports president Pete Bevacqua said Hicks “was a fixture here on campus and in the broadcast booth as one of the great voices of Notre Dame football. … Most importantly, a dear friend over the last quarter century.”
Hicks also called regional NFL games on NBC from 1992 to 1997, five French Opens and some NBA coverage from 1992 to 2000.
Hicks is survived by Storm – his wife of 32 years – and their three daughters Hannah, Ellery and Riley.
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AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver and AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson in Jacksonville, Fla., contributed to this report.
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