Veteran NBC Sports Commentator Dan Hicks Dies at 64 After Acute Illness

Dan Hicks, the veteran NBC Sports broadcaster whose voice became synonymous with major golf tournaments, Olympic competitions and Notre Dame football, has died at the age of 64.

Hicks died late Wednesday, November 11, in Connecticut following an acute illness, his family and NBC Sports announced on Thursday.

His wife, ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm, confirmed his death in a statement, describing his passing as sudden and unexpected.

“Our family is heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan following an acute illness,” Storm said.

She described Hicks as a devoted husband of more than 30 years, a loving father to their three daughters and a cherished friend to many.

“Dan was truly one of a kind and, quite simply, the person everyone wanted to be around. When he walked into a room, he brought the energy, the laughter and the people together,” she added.

Hicks joined NBC Sports in 1992 after spending three years at CNN, beginning what became a distinguished broadcasting career spanning more than three decades.

He became the network’s lead golf announcer in 2000 and covered some of the sport’s biggest competitions, including the US Open, the Open Championship, the Ryder Cup and the PGA Tour.

During his career, he called 27 tournament victories by golf legend Tiger Woods, including three US Open triumphs.

One of his most memorable broadcasting moments came during the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, when Woods sank a crucial putt to force a playoff against Rocco Mediate.

Hicks also became a familiar voice during the Olympic Games, covering 16 editions of the international sporting event, including nine Summer and seven Winter Olympics.

Alongside former Olympic swimmer Rowdy Gaines, he called swimming competitions at eight Olympics, helping audiences follow historic performances by American swimmers Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.

He was part of the coverage of Phelps’ remarkable achievement of winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also covered alpine skiing, speed skating and other Olympic events.

Beyond golf and the Olympics, Hicks served as the play-by-play announcer for Notre Dame football, returning to the role in 2024 after an earlier stint between 2013 and 2016.

He was scheduled to call Notre Dame’s game against Boston College on Saturday.

NBC Sports executives Rick Cordella, Sam Flood and Molly Solomon described Hicks as an exceptional storyteller whose work elevated some of the biggest moments in sporting history.

They praised his knowledge, enthusiasm, humour and ability to connect with colleagues and audiences, adding that his contribution extended far beyond his broadcasting achievements.

Tributes also came from the PGA Tour, the United States Golf Association and other sporting organisations, which remembered him as a familiar and respected voice whose work helped shape viewers’ memories of major sporting events.

Hicks is survived by Storm and their three daughters, Hannah, Ellery and Riley.

His death marks the loss of one of American sports broadcasting’s recognisable voices, whose career brought some of the world’s biggest sporting moments into millions of homes.