Notre Dame is mourning the loss of Dan Hicks, the longtime NBC broadcaster whose voice became part of the Fighting Irish experience and whose death was announced Thursday morning.
The news first came from Golf Channel broadcaster Rich Lerner, a close friend of Hicks, who said the death was a shock and that he struggled to find the words to deliver it. Tributes quickly followed across social media, with many remembering Hicks for his work covering Notre Dame, golf and the Olympics.
Hicks was married to broadcaster Hannah Storm, who is also a Notre Dame alum. Storm confirmed his death on social media and said she and their three daughters were heartbroken.
NBC Sports, where Hicks spent 34 years, also issued a statement honoring one of its most recognizable voices.
“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.
For Notre Dame fans, Hicks had returned to the booth in 2024 for a second stint as the lead voice of Fighting Irish football, taking over from Jac Collinsworth. His first run calling Notre Dame games came from 2013 to 2016.
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