Dan Hicks’ Golf Superpower: Making People Feel Good On and Off Air
A calm presence in golf
The last time the writer saw Hicks was at the U.S. Amateur at Merion in August. Sitting in a cart near the course’s 16th hole, he was spending time with two NBC Sports colleagues after the day’s play.
Hicks was known for being kind, funny, smart and unhurried, even though live broadcasting demands quick responses. He worked in golf, football, basketball, the Olympics and highlight-reel news, bringing a calm manner to the work.
Golf was his home
Hicks died Wednesday, Nov. 11, at age 64, from an acute illness that was not identified. He had played basketball and baseball at a public high school in Tucson, Arizona, in the late 1970s, and followed many sports, but golf was his home.
He covered Tiger Woods’ 1995 U.S. Amateur win at Newport Country Club, the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and the 2018 Tour Championship at East Lake. The writer recalled that viewers shared those moments through Hicks’ broadcasts.
Warmth beyond the broadcast
Hicks was married to ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm, and they had three daughters. Storm attended Notre Dame, where Hicks covered football; the couple met later and shared a connection to South Bend.
He brought humor and lightness to sponsor interviews that could otherwise feel stiff. He also combined a strong sense of style with an easy presence, and the writer recalled his long partnership with NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller.
Key points
- Dan Hicks died at 64 on Nov. 11 after an unnamed acute illness.
- The NBC Sports broadcaster worked across golf, football, basketball and the Olympics.
- Golf was Hicks’ home, and he covered several notable Tiger Woods victories.
- Colleagues remembered Hicks for warmth, humor and calm under live-TV pressure.