Dan Hicks, the longtime NBC Sports announcer whose voice accompanied some of the most memorable moments in golf and Olympic history, died Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at age 64. His family and NBC Sports confirmed his death the following day.
Hicks died in Connecticut following what his wife, ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm, described as an acute illness. The sudden loss brought tributes from colleagues, athletes and sporting organizations that had worked with him across more than three decades.
For viewers, Hicks was a familiar presence at major golf championships, Olympic swimming finals, Alpine skiing competitions and Notre Dame football games. His ability to give dramatic sporting moments room to unfold became a defining feature of his broadcasting career.
What Happened to Dan Hicks?
Storm announced her husband's death on November 12, describing it as sudden and unexpected. In a family statement published by NBC Sports, she remembered him as a devoted husband, father and friend.
The family did not publicly identify a specific medical diagnosis in the statements available at the time of publication. Beyond the description of an acute illness, the circumstances of his death should not be treated as established.
Hicks is survived by Storm, his wife of more than three decades, and their daughters Hannah, Ellery and Riley.
The Voice Behind Golf's Biggest Moments
Hicks joined NBC Sports in 1992 after working at CNN. He became the network's lead golf play-by-play announcer in 2000, building a career that placed him at the center of major championships and countless PGA Tour broadcasts.
Among his most recognizable assignments was the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. When Tiger Woods made a dramatic birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff against Rocco Mediate, Hicks allowed the crowd's reaction to register before delivering his understated call: "Expect anything different?"
Woods went on to win the championship in an 18-hole playoff and additional sudden-death hole the following day. Hicks' call belonged to the putt that extended the tournament, not the eventual winning moment.
Over his career, Hicks called 27 U.S. Opens and 23 U.S. Women's Opens, along with events including the Ryder Cup, The Open Championship and the Players Championship. He was on the broadcast for 27 tournament victories by Woods, according to the Associated Press.
His longtime work alongside golf analysts, including Johnny Miller, helped make his measured delivery part of the sport's television identity.
From Michael Phelps to Olympic Skiing
Golf was only one part of Hicks' career. He also became one of NBC's principal voices for Olympic swimming, working eight Games in the sport alongside analyst Rowdy Gaines.
Their partnership reached a global audience at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Michael Phelps won an unprecedented eight gold medals. Hicks and Gaines guided viewers through those races, including the dramatic American victory in the men's 4×100-meter freestyle relay.
Hicks also covered Katie Ledecky's Olympic achievements, including her rise to become one of the most decorated swimmers in history. His Olympic work extended beyond the pool to Alpine skiing and speed skating.
Accounts of his Olympic career use different totals depending on the assignments counted. The Associated Press reported that he worked at 16 Olympic Games overall, while NBC identified 15 Games in play-by-play roles.
That breadth mattered: Hicks could move from the quiet tension of a golf green to the rapid pace of an Olympic final without losing his distinctive, controlled style.
Notre Dame Football and a Career Across Sports
Hicks also served as a play-by-play announcer for Notre Dame football from 2013 through 2016 before returning to the role in 2024.
He had been scheduled to call Notre Dame's November 14 game against Boston College, making his death an immediate loss for NBC's current college football coverage.
His other assignments included NFL and NBA games and coverage of the French Open tennis tournament. The range reflected both his versatility and NBC's reliance on him for major live sporting events.
Tributes From NBC and the Sports World
NBC Sports leaders Rick Cordella, Sam Flood and Molly Solomon remembered Hicks as an exceptional storyteller whose work elevated major sporting moments. Their statement also emphasized his humor, kindness and support for colleagues away from the broadcast booth.
The PGA Tour paid tribute to the familiar sound of his voice across decades of golf coverage, while the United States Golf Association remembered his friendship and contributions to the game.
USA Swimming and U.S. Ski & Snowboard also honored Hicks, reflecting the unusually broad reach of his Olympic work.
In a separate remembrance published by the Los Angeles Times, Hicks' philosophy of broadcasting emerged through his emphasis on helping viewers care about the athletes behind the results.
Dan Hicks' Lasting Broadcasting Legacy
Hicks' career was defined not simply by the number of events he covered, but by the moments viewers associated with his voice.
He was there for Woods' dramatic putt at Torrey Pines, Phelps' extraordinary Beijing Olympics and generations of major golf and Olympic broadcasts. Across different sports, he brought context to the action while allowing athletes and their achievements to remain at the center of the story.
His death leaves a significant absence in sports broadcasting, particularly at NBC, where he had worked since 1992.
For audiences who followed golf, Olympic swimming or Notre Dame football, Hicks' voice had become part of the experience of watching the sport itself.
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