NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks dies suddenly at 64

Summarised from 6 outlets · 18 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 00:09 · Archive

Dan Hicks, NBC's longtime lead announcer for golf and Olympic swimming, has died at 64 from an acute illness.

Dan Hicks, NBC's lead announcer for golf, Olympic swimming and Notre Dame football during a 35-year broadcasting career, died on Wednesday in Connecticut from an acute illness. He was 64. His wife, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm announced his death in a statement on Thursday. 'Our family is heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan,' Storm said. 'He was a devoted husband of over 30 years, loving father to our three daughters, and cherished friend to so many. His loss is immeasurable.'

Hicks joined NBC Sports in 1992 after three years at CNN. He was the lead voice of the network's golf coverage for 26 years, a role he held from at least 2000. He also provided commentary for swimming at the Olympics beginning with the 1996 Atlanta Games, and for Notre Dame football games from 2013 to 2017 and again from 2024.

In an Associated Press interview just weeks before his death in September, Hicks reflected on his long tenure at one network. 'I'm incredibly lucky to stay at one place this long,' he said. 'It takes a lot of things going your way as far as NBC continuing to have the properties that I've been a part of through the years. So lots of variables, lots of things that can happen in your career. But I think I appreciate it more and more the longer it's been.'

Hicks was on the call for 27 tournament victories by Tiger Woods, including three at the U.S. Open. He was particularly known for calling Woods' dramatic 2008 U.S. Open victory following a 19-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate. He also worked alongside two-time major champion Johnny Miller on golf broadcasts for nearly 20 years.

At the Olympics, Hicks and fellow commentator Rowdy Gaines turned swimming commentary into what Al Michaels described as 'an art form'. Fox News reports that Hicks was responsible for one of the most memorable calls in Olympic history during the men's 4x100 freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Games, which featured Michael Phelps and a Team USA comeback victory. Hicks also covered skiing and other Olympic sports across 16 Games.

Tributes came swiftly from across the sports world. Tiger Woods called Hicks a 'great friend' both on and off the course, saying his 'kindness, warmth, and presence will be deeply missed'. The PGA Tour released a statement saying 'the sound of his voice is woven into our memories of the game'. Al Michaels, the veteran broadcaster now with Amazon Prime Video, became visibly emotional during Thursday Night Football coverage, pausing as his voice cracked whilst honouring Hicks.

NBC replaced Hicks for Saturday's Notre Dame-Boston College football game with Jason Benetti handling play-by-play duties. Hicks' final social media post, from October, showed him celebrating his daughter Riley's completion of the Chicago Marathon, her third major marathon in 18 months.

How it is being reported

• Tiger Woods pays tribute to 'great friend' Dan Hicks following his sudden death after NBC star called golf star's most iconic career momentsSome of legendary NBC sportscaster Dan Hicks' most memorable moments on the mic came calling 15-time major winner Tiger Woods' heroics on the fairways.Daily Mail Sport · 13 Nov, 19:57
• Tiger Woods says goodbye to Dan Hicks after broadcasting legend called iconic career momentsHicks was behind the mic for several iconic moments during Woods' career.New York Post · 13 Nov, 18:58
• NBC tabs Jason Benetti to replace Dan Hicks on Notre Dame-Boston College call after shocking deathHicks called Notre Dame football games from 2013-17 and returned to the role in 2024.New York Post · 13 Nov, 18:02
• Al Michaels chokes up during moving tribute to Dan Hicks on Thursday Night Football – his best moment in yearsAl Michaels choked up during his Thursday Night Football tribute to Dan Hicks, whose death left behind wife Hannah Storm and three daughters.Fox News · 13 Nov, 15:50
• NBC star Dan Hicks' emotional final social media post resurfaces in the wake of his 'sudden' death at 64The iconic NBC broadcaster died suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 64 after battling an acute illness, his family announced in an emotional statement earlier this week.Daily Mail Sport · 13 Nov, 14:48
• Al Michaels choked up remembering Dan Hicks on ‘TNF’ following sudden deathPrime Video play-by-play broadcaster Al Michaels delivered an emotional tribute to former NBC colleague Dan Hicks.New York Post · 13 Nov, 13:24
• Devastated Mike Tirico pays emotional tribute to Dan Hicks after shock death of NBC broadcaster at just 64The Tucson, Arizona native was best known for calling the action at the Olympics, on the PGA Tour and at Notre Dame football games. He also worked NFL games for NBC between 1992 and 1998.Daily Mail Sport · 13 Nov, 02:53
• Mike Tirico mourns death of longtime NBC colleague Dan Hicks: ‘Broadcaster’s broadcaster’Mike Tirico paid tribute to NBC sportscaster Dan Hicks, who died at age 64. Hicks was renowned for calling Olympic swimming and golf majors.New York Post · 13 Nov, 01:56
• Dan Hicks’ final weeks before death included concert, Notre Dame game: ‘64 going on 44’Dan Hicks was in a busy season of life when he died suddenly following an acute illness.New York Post · 12 Nov, 19:43
• Dan Hicks, NBC’s voice of golf and Olympic swimming, dies at age of 64 after acute illnessDeath announced by wife, ESPN’s Hannah Storm Hicks had a 35-year career in broadcasting Sportscaster Dan Hicks, who was the voice of golf, Olympic swimming and Notre Dame football during a 35-year career at NBC Sports, has died, his family and NBC announced Thursday. He was 64. Hicks died late Wednesday in Connecticut. He died of an acute illness, according to his wife, ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm. Continue reading...Guardian Sport · 12 Nov, 18:44
• Dan Hicks’ close friends Roger Maltbie, Jimmy Roberts give emotional on-air tributes after shocking deathThe emotional tributes have poured in for Dan Hicks after the legendary sports broadcaster's sudden death at 64.New York Post · 12 Nov, 18:30
• Iconic NBC Sports announcer Dan Hicks dies at 64Dan Hicks died of an acute illness, according to his wife, ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm.CBS News · 12 Nov, 17:39
• Dan Hicks died of ‘acute illness’ before he was scheduled to call Notre Dame gameLegendary sports broadcaster Dan Hicks died following an "acute illness," his wife Hannah Storm shared Thursday, adding that his passing was "sudden and unexpected."New York Post · 12 Nov, 16:30
• Dan Hicks celebrated daughter’s marathon accomplishment in last social post before ‘sudden’ deathDan served as a longtime NBC announcer and died of an acute illness Wednesday in Connecticut.New York Post · 12 Nov, 16:22
• Sports world reacts to the sudden passing of legendary broadcaster Dan Hicks at the age of 64Hannah Storm shared news of Dan Hicks' sudden passing from an acute illness, calling the NBC golf and Olympics voice a devoted husband and father.Fox News · 12 Nov, 15:57
• Longtime NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks dies at 64Hicks said he was ‘incredibly lucky’ in an interview just weeks before his deathIndependent Sport · 12 Nov, 15:46
• Heartbroken ESPN host reveals 'sudden and unexpected death' of her iconic NBC broadcaster husband at just 64Legendary NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks died suddenly at 64 on Wednesday after battling an acute illness. His wife, Hannah Storm, reacted to the tragedy online.Daily Mail Sport · 12 Nov, 15:12
• Dan Hicks, legendary sportscaster, dead at 64: ‘Sudden and unexpected’Hicks had long been the golf voice of NBC Sports and also worked on Notre Dame, NBA and NFL broadcasts.New York Post · 12 Nov, 15:01

In this story: Dan Hicks · Hannah Storm · NBC Sports · Tiger Woods · Al Michaels · Rowdy Gaines · Connecticut · Notre Dame

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