Early years

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Hicks graduated from Sabino High School in 1980 and from the University of Arizona in 1984. After starting in radio, he was a weekend sports anchor on KVOA, the NBC affiliate in Tucson. Hicks moved east to work as a sports reporter for CNN in Atlanta in 1989, and went to NBC Sports in 1992.

NBC Sports

Hicks's primary duties for the network include play-by-play commentary for golf, but took over as play-by-play commentator for Notre Dame football in 2013, replacing Tom Hammond and continuing on the position to NFL Wildcard Saturday. Hicks called the AFC WildCard matchup in 2014, where the Colts defeated the Chiefs in the 2nd biggest comeback in NFL playoff history.

Hicks was also a play-by-play man for The NBA on NBC, The NFL on NBC, and was a tower announcer for NBC's golf coverage until Dick Enberg left NBC for CBS in 2000, promoting Hicks to the top spot. Hicks formerly served as the primary anchor for NBC's sports updates every weekend. Hicks also hosted NBC's now-defunct annual winter sports special, Ice.

Olympics

He is also heavily involved in NBC's Olympic Games coverage. During the Summer Olympics, Hicks is the stroke-by-stroke announcer for swimming, a role he has held since 1996, and he was the play-by-play announcer for speed skating for the Winter Olympics in 2002, 2006 and 2010, but moved to alpine skiing for the 2014 Games, taking over for the retired Tim Ryan, in addition to formerly serving as co-host of the Closing Ceremony. At the 2000 Summer Olympics, Hicks also called diving, a role he returned to for a single day at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, subbing for Ted Robinson, who was assigned to call the gold medal match in men's tennis on the same day. At the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics, Hicks served as late-night anchor, although in 2004, Pat O'Brien served as late-night host for the first week of the games because of Hicks' swimming duties. Hicks also hosted the former CNBC show, The Olympic Show.

One of Hicks' most memorable calls came during the men's 4x100 freestyle relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics, as he announced the USA's come-from-behind win over France:

“

The United States trying to hang on to second; they should get the Silver medal. Australia is in Bronze territory right now, but Lezak is closing a little bit on Bernard. Can the veteran chase him down and pull off a shocker here? "Well there's no doubt that he's tightening up!" Bernard is losing some ground. Here comes Lezak! UNBELIEVABLE AT THE END! HE'S DONE IT! THE U.S. HAS DONE IT! "HE DID IT!" A NEW WORLD RECORD! "HE DID IT! HE DID IT!" Phelps' hope's alive!

”

-Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines calling the final lap of the 4x100m relay.

Personal

While at CNN, Hicks met his wife, Hannah Storm, currently an anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter; they were married on January 8, 1994. The couple lives in Greenwich, Connecticut with their three daughters: Hannah, Ellery, and Riley Hicks. Storm is an alumna of Notre Dame.

Hicks is known to do good impressions of former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, and fellow NBC Sports colleague Bob Costas, and once had his impression of former President Richard Nixon as the outgoing message on his answering machine.

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