The sports world lost a giant voice this week. Dan Hicks, the man who called the biggest moments in golf and college football, died at age 64. His death came just days before he was set to broadcast a Notre Dame football game. The news broke on Thursday, leaving fans and colleagues in shock.
Hicks was scheduled to call the matchup between Notre Dame and Boston College on Saturday in South Bend, Indiana. Instead, the broadcast booth will go silent for a legend. His wife, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, confirmed the loss in a post to X. She described the passing as sudden and unexpected, citing an acute illness as the cause. No other details were released by the family.
A Life Built on the Mic
Hicks was the face and voice of NBC Sports for decades. He joined the network in 1992 and stayed until the end of his life. That stretch covers 34 years of work. He became the signature voice of NBC’s golf coverage for the last 26 years. His work included calling 27 Tiger Woods victories and 27 U.S. Opens.
Beyond the greens, he handled play-by-play for multiple Olympic Games. He started with the 1992 Barcelona Games and most recently covered Alpine Skiing at the Milan Cortina Games this year. NBC Sports president Rick Cordella, along with Sam Flood and Molly Solomon, honored his career in a joint statement.
“Dan Hicks was an extraordinary colleague, friend, and person,” the executives wrote. They noted that his blend of knowledge, style, and humor kept fans entertained for decades. The statement also highlighted his role as a leader who welcomed teammates with a smile or a joke.
Family First Always
While the world knew him as a broadcaster, Hicks loved his family the most. He and Storm have been married for over 30 years. They raised three daughters together: Hannah, Ellery, and Riley. Storm shared that the family is heartbroken by the loss. She wrote that his loss is immeasurable.
Hicks often used social media to celebrate his daughters’ achievements. His last Instagram post, shared on Oct. 11, showed his daughter Riley running in the Chicago Marathon. In hot weather, she smashed her personal record, an achievement he wrote about. “Our girl did it again. 3rd major marathon in 18 months,” he wrote. That post stands as his final public message before his death on Wednesday in Connecticut.
The Game That Was Never Called
This season marked Hicks’ seventh year calling Notre Dame football games. He had previously covered the team from 2013 to 2016 before returning in 2024. The upcoming game against Boston College was meant to be another chapter in that long run. Now, the broadcast team must find a replacement for a voice that defined the sport for so many.
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro expressed deep sadness in his own statement. He called Hicks a respected voice in sports broadcasting and a cherished member of the ESPN family through his wife. Pitaro said the network stands alongside Storm and their daughters during this difficult time. The Notre Dame game is scheduled for Saturday in South Bend.
