Dan Hicks dies at 64, NBC Sports confirmed on Thursday morning. The sports world has lost one of its most familiar voices. Hicks called golf for NBC since 2000. Swimming was another stage: he called it at eight Summer Olympics. He died on Wednesday, November 11, after an acute illness. His wife, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, shared the news.
Dan Hicks Dies at 64: The Voice Behind Golf’s Greatest Moments Falls Silent
Dan Hicks dies at 64, NBC Sports confirmed on Thursday morning. The sports world has lost one of its most familiar voices. Hicks called golf for NBC since 2000. Swimming was another stage: he called it at eight Summer Olympics. He died on Wednesday, November 11, after an acute illness. His wife, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, shared the news.
Key Facts
- Dan Hicks died: Wednesday, November 11, 2026, aged 64.
- Cause: An acute illness, described by his family as sudden and unexpected.
- Announced by: His wife, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, on Thursday, November 12.
- Career: 34 years at NBC Sports, lead golf voice since 2000, 15 Olympic Games.
- Survived by: His wife Hannah Storm and their three daughters.
Dan Hicks Dies at 64: What We Know So Far
Hicks died late Wednesday in Connecticut, according to reports. His family confirmed the death on Thursday morning. Storm wrote that the family was “heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan following an acute illness.” She called him “a devoted husband of over 30 years, loving father to our three daughters, and cherished friend to so many.”
So far, no further details have been released. NBC Sports also confirmed the death, and it praised Hicks as “an extraordinary colleague, friend and person.”
From Tucson Radio to the Voice of Golf
Hicks was born John Daniel Hicks on June 2, 1962, in Tucson, Arizona. After graduating from the University of Arizona in 1984, he started in local radio before moving to KVOA, the NBC affiliate in Tucson. CNN hired him in 1989. He then spent three years in Atlanta hosting CNN Sports Tonight. In 1992, he finally joined NBC Sports, and he never left.
At NBC, Hicks did a bit of everything. He called NFL games from 1992 to 1998 and NBA games through 2000, plus the French Open and Olympic speed skating. But golf became his home. After years as a tower announcer, he took over as lead play-by-play voice in 2000, when Dick Enberg left for CBS. Hicks held that chair for 26 years, nearly two decades beside analyst Johnny Miller.
The Olympics gave Hicks his biggest stage. He worked 15 Olympic Games, including a record eight Summer Games calling swimming, plus Alpine skiing at the last four Winter Games. In 2024, he returned as Notre Dame football’s lead voice, and a Sports Emmy for NBCUniversal’s Paris Olympics coverage followed.
The Calls That Defined Dan Hicks
Great announcers are remembered for a handful of moments. Hicks had more than most, so here are the calls fans will replay for years.
“Expect Anything Different?” — Tiger Woods, 2008 U.S. Open
On the 72nd hole at Torrey Pines in 2008, Tiger Woods rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt. It tied Rocco Mediate and forced a playoff. Hicks’ line — “Expect anything different?” — became one of the most quoted calls in golf history. Woods won the playoff the next day, on a broken leg.
Eight Golds in Beijing — Michael Phelps, 2008 Olympics
Two months later, Hicks sat with Rowdy Gaines for all eight of Michael Phelps’ gold medals in Beijing. He called all 28 of Phelps’ Olympic medals from 2004 through 2016, including Jason Lezak’s stunning comeback in the 4×100 freestyle relay. Many fans still call it the greatest relay ever swum.
Hicks also called the Ryder Cup and the Players Championship. His range was the point. He could make an ordinary golf round feel big. At an Olympic final, he matched the noise without shouting over it.
Tributes Pour In for Dan Hicks
The tributes started within minutes of the announcement. For example, NBC Sports leaders said Hicks “elevated some of the biggest moments in sports history.” The PGA Tour, meanwhile, said it was “devastated by the sudden loss.” The USGA called him “a true friend to the game.” Olympic swimming coach Bob Bowman wrote that Hicks “was kind, smart and had a keen interest in people. Just a world-class human.”
What’s Next for NBC’s Golf Coverage?
NBC has not yet said who will take over as its lead golf voice. Whoever follows Hicks, however, will inherit a booth that fans link to one voice for 26 years. For now, though, the focus is on the family. Hicks is survived by Storm and their three daughters.
Dan Hicks dies at 64, closing a 34-year run at NBC Sports. Finally, we will add him to our living tribute, Celebrities We Lost in 2026. It has been a hard week for farewells: Anthony Clark died at 62 on Monday, and Stacy Keach at 85 on Tuesday.
Dan Hicks’ Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1962 | Born June 2 in Tucson, Arizona |
| 1989 | Joins CNN as a sports reporter in Atlanta |
| 1992 | Joins NBC Sports; first Olympics |
| 2000 | Becomes NBC’s lead golf voice |
| 2008 | Woods’ U.S. Open putt; Phelps’ eight golds |
| 2024 | Notre Dame return; Sports Emmy win |
| 2026 | Dies November 11 at 64 after an acute illness |
Sources
Sources: NBC Sports (November 12, 2026); GOLF.com (November 12, 2026); TheWrap (November 12, 2026); SwimSwam (November 12, 2026).
