Veteran NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks, whose familiar voice accompanied some of the most unforgettable moments in sports history, has died unexpectedly at 64, just days before he was scheduled to call another major college football game.
His wife, longtime ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, confirmed the heartbreaking news Thursday, November 12, revealing that Hicks died late Wednesday in Connecticut following an acute illness.
The sudden loss has stunned the sports broadcasting community, where Hicks spent more than three decades becoming one of television’s most recognizable voices.
Storm, who was married to Hicks for more than 30 years, shared an emotional tribute to her husband, remembering him as a devoted father, beloved colleague, and someone whose warmth could brighten any room.
“Dan was truly one of a kind and quite simply the person everyone wanted to be around,” she wrote. “When he walked into a room, he brought the energy, the laughter, and the people together.”
Storm described her husband as endlessly thoughtful, funny, and compassionate, adding that he had a special ability to make everyone around him feel important.
“Our three daughters and I are heartbroken,” she continued, thanking friends and supporters for their kindness during the family’s devastating loss.
Hicks’ death came at a particularly unexpected moment in his career. He was scheduled to provide play-by-play commentary for Notre Dame’s highly anticipated rivalry game against Boston College on Saturday, November 14, alongside analyst Jason Garrett and sideline reporter Caroline Pineda.
NBC had listed Hicks as part of the broadcast team in its official game announcement just one day before his death was publicly confirmed.
Born in Tucson, Arizona, Hicks began his broadcasting career in local television and radio before joining CNN in 1989. He moved to NBC Sports in 1992, launching a remarkable career that would span 34 years.
He became the network’s lead golf announcer in 2000, covering 27 U.S. Opens, 23 U.S. Women’s Opens, Ryder Cups, and numerous PGA Tour tournaments.
Over the years, Hicks called 27 tournament victories by golf legend Tiger Woods, including the unforgettable 2008 U.S. Open, when Woods defeated Rocco Mediate in a dramatic playoff.
His contributions extended far beyond golf.
During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hicks helped bring one of swimming’s greatest moments to American audiences when the U.S. men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay team staged a stunning comeback to defeat France and capture gold.
He also called numerous Olympic performances by Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, becoming a familiar voice to generations of swimming fans.
His outstanding work earned him a Sports Emmy as part of NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a joint statement, NBC Sports executives Rick Cordella, Sam Flood, and Molly Solomon remembered Hicks as an extraordinary broadcaster whose talent was matched only by his character.
They praised his storytelling, enthusiasm, humor, and ability to elevate historic sporting moments, while emphasizing the kindness he showed colleagues behind the scenes.
But beyond the championships, Olympic medals, and unforgettable broadcasts, those closest to Hicks say his greatest legacy will be the relationships he built throughout his life.
He is survived by Storm and their three daughters, Hannah, Ellery, and Riley.