Notre Dame is mourning the loss of one of the most familiar voices in its orbit after Dan Hicks died Thursday morning.
The news was first shared by Golf Channel broadcaster Rich Lerner, a close friend of Hicks, who said the death came as a shock and that he was struggling to find the words to announce it. Tributes followed quickly across social media for the broadcaster whose work stretched across Notre Dame football, golf and the Olympics.
Hicks was married to Hannah Storm, another well-known broadcaster and a Notre Dame alum. Storm also confirmed the news on social media and said she and the couple’s three daughters were heartbroken.
NBC Sports, where Hicks spent decades, also released a statement honoring him.
“Dan Hicks was an extraordinary colleague, friend and person. In his 34 years at NBC Sports, he was an exceptional storyteller and caller of games and events who elevated some of the biggest moments in sports history.”
“From Olympic swimming and skiing to Notre Dame football, numerous other high-profile events and especially as the signature voice of our golf coverage for the last 26 years, Dan’s blend of knowledge, style, enthusiasm and humor informed and entertained fans for decades.”
“But far beyond his on-air excellence, Dan was a better person who welcomed teammates with a smile, a joke, or a word of encouragement, sometimes all three in the same sentence. Our heartfelt condolences and love to his wife Hannah and his daughters Hannah, Ellery, and Riley.”
Hicks had been NBC Sports’ lead play-by-play voice for the PGA Tour since 2000 and worked 16 Olympic broadcasts. One of his most memorable calls came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when Team USA stunned the field to win gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay behind Michael Phelps.
He also returned to Notre Dame football in 2024 for his second stint as the lead play-by-play voice, taking over from Jac Collinsworth. Hicks had previously called Fighting Irish games from 2013 to 2016 before stepping away for nearly a decade.
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