Hannah Storm Parents: Who Were Mike Storen and Hannah G. Storen, the Family Behind the ESPN Anchor?
Hannah Storm has returned to public attention following the sudden passing of her husband, longtime NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks. The couple shared more than three decades of marriage and raised three daughters together. As Storm navigates this difficult period, interest has also grown in her own family background, particularly the parents who helped shape her passion for sports and broadcasting.
Hannah Storm was born Hannah Lynn Storen on June 13, 1962, in Oak Park, Illinois. Her parents were Mike Storen, a prominent American sports executive, and Hannah G. Storen, a real estate professional and former college basketball player. Growing up in a family deeply connected to professional athletics gave Storm an unusual introduction to the sports industry long before she became a nationally recognized television journalist.
Who Are Hannah Storm’s Parents?
Hannah Storm’s parents are Mike Storen and Hannah G. Storen.
Her father was an influential sports executive who held leadership positions in professional basketball, football, baseball and other sports. He became particularly well known for serving as commissioner of the American Basketball Association.
Her mother, Hannah G. Storen, worked in real estate and had her own background in competitive basketball.
Both parents contributed to Storm’s early interest in athletics and encouraged her to pursue professional opportunities.
Storm has frequently explained that sports were a natural part of her childhood because of her father’s career.
She also grew up with two brothers, Mark and Duke Storen.
The family’s connection to professional sports eventually influenced her decision to enter sports journalism, an industry where women faced considerable barriers when she began her career.
Who Was Hannah Storm’s Father Mike Storen?
Mike Storen was a prominent American sports executive and former commissioner of the American Basketball Association.
He was born on September 18, 1935, in Michigan City, Indiana.
Before entering professional sports management, Storen attended the University of Notre Dame and served in the United States Marine Corps.
His professional career began in the early 1960s when he answered a newspaper advertisement for a ticket-selling position with the Chicago Zephyrs basketball franchise.
Although he initially had limited experience in sports management, he quickly demonstrated an ability to promote teams and attract audiences.
He remained with the franchise after it relocated and became the Baltimore Bullets.
Over time, Storen advanced into increasingly important executive positions.
His career eventually included leadership responsibilities with several professional sports organizations.
Mike Storen’s Career in Professional Basketball
Mike Storen became one of the most influential executives associated with the American Basketball Association.
He served as general manager of the Indiana Pacers and Kentucky Colonels before becoming ABA commissioner in the early 1970s.
The ABA competed with the National Basketball Association and introduced several innovations that later became familiar features of professional basketball.
These included the three-point shot, colorful basketballs and a more entertainment-focused presentation of the sport.
Storen was closely associated with the league’s distinctive red, white and blue basketball.
His marketing approach helped the ABA develop a recognizable identity.
He also worked with prominent players and coaches, including Julius Erving and Artis Gilmore.
Beyond the ABA, Storen held executive positions with the Atlanta Hawks and worked with organizations connected to professional football, baseball and tennis.
His influence extended across several major American sports.
When Did Hannah Storm’s Father Mike Storen Pass Away?
Mike Storen passed away on May 7, 2020, at the age of 84.
He had been receiving treatment at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
His passing followed complications from cancer.
Hannah Storm publicly reflected on her father’s contributions to professional sports and the influence he had on her childhood.
She remembered growing up around athletes, coaches and executives who frequently visited the family home.
Storen’s career helped introduce her to the business side of sports as well as the personalities involved in professional competition.
His passing prompted tributes from former players, coaches and sports organizations.
Many remembered him for his creativity, promotional skills and contributions to the development of professional basketball.
Who Is Hannah Storm’s Mother Hannah G. Storen?
Hannah G. Storen is the mother of ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm.
Unlike her former husband, Mike Storen, she maintained a relatively private professional life.
She has been identified in biographical accounts as a real estate broker.
She also played competitive basketball during her college years, giving her a personal connection to athletics.
That background meant Storm grew up with sporting influences from both parents.
While her father’s work introduced the family to professional teams and major sporting events, her mother’s experience provided another example of women’s participation in athletics.
Storm has credited both parents with encouraging her ambitions.
Her mother supported her interest in broadcasting at a time when women faced limited opportunities in sports journalism.
Detailed information about Hannah G. Storen’s later career and personal circumstances has not been widely documented.
How Did Hannah Storm’s Parents Influence Her Career?
Hannah Storm has frequently discussed the importance of her parents in shaping her professional ambitions.
Her father’s career gave her access to an environment filled with athletes, coaches and sports executives.
As a child, she attended basketball games and became comfortable interacting with professional players.
She also learned that sports involved business decisions, marketing strategies and relationships beyond what happened during games.
Her mother’s experience in college basketball reinforced the idea that women could participate in competitive sports.
Both parents encouraged Storm to pursue opportunities that interested her.
Their support became particularly important when she began applying for broadcasting jobs.
During the early 1980s, female sports journalists faced significant resistance from television stations and employers.
Storm later recalled discussing those difficulties with her father.
He encouraged her to remain persistent and reminded her that she needed only one employer willing to provide an opportunity.
That advice helped her continue pursuing a broadcasting career despite repeated rejection.
Hannah Storm’s Childhood and Family Moves
Hannah Storm spent her childhood in several American cities because of her father’s professional responsibilities.
She was born in Oak Park, Illinois, but her family later lived in places including Baltimore, Memphis, Atlanta and Houston.
Her father’s work required frequent relocation as he accepted positions with different sports organizations.
Storm has explained that she attended seven schools over 12 years.
Although moving frequently created challenges, she eventually recognized that the experience helped develop her communication skills.
She became comfortable meeting unfamiliar people and adapting to new environments.
Those abilities later proved valuable in television journalism, where interviewing athletes and public figures became an important part of her work.
Her childhood also included regular exposure to professional basketball players.
Storm has recalled athletes such as Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel and Julius Erving visiting the family home.
These experiences helped make the professional sports environment familiar to her from an early age.
Does Hannah Storm Have Any Siblings?
Hannah Storm has two brothers named Mark Storen and Duke Storen.
They are children of Mike Storen and his first wife, Hannah G. Storen.
The siblings grew up in a family closely associated with professional sports.
Storm has recalled attending basketball games with her brothers during childhood.
Their father’s executive responsibilities meant the family frequently moved between cities connected to professional sports organizations.
Although Hannah became a nationally recognized television personality, her brothers have maintained comparatively private lives.
Their professional activities and personal circumstances have not received the same level of media attention.
Mike Storen also had two stepdaughters, Susan Duncan and Lisa Roberts, through his later marriage to Lynn.
The extended family included numerous grandchildren.
Hannah Storm Followed Her Father’s Path to Notre Dame
Hannah Storm attended the University of Notre Dame, the same institution her father had attended.
She graduated in 1983 with a degree involving political science and communications.
During college, Storm developed practical experience in television and radio broadcasting.
She worked on campus radio programming and gained experience through internships.
She also worked as a stage manager for Notre Dame football television coverage.
These opportunities allowed her to develop technical knowledge and confidence in front of audiences.
Her university years were particularly important because she decided to pursue sports broadcasting despite the limited number of women working in the industry.
After graduation, she began applying for radio and television positions.
Her determination eventually led to opportunities in Texas and other regional markets.
Hannah Storm’s Broadcasting Career
Hannah Storm began her broadcasting career in radio before moving into television sports journalism.
She worked in Corpus Christi, Houston and Charlotte during the early stages of her professional journey.
In 1989, she joined CNN and became the first female host of CNN Sports Tonight.
Her work helped establish her as a pioneering figure in American sports television.
Storm moved to NBC Sports in 1992.
There, she covered major events including the Olympics, professional basketball and Major League Baseball.
She became the first woman to serve as the solo host of a major American broadcast network’s sports coverage.
Storm later joined CBS, where she co-hosted The Early Show and covered national news.
In 2008, she moved to ESPN and became a prominent SportsCenter anchor.
Her career also expanded into documentary production, filmmaking and charitable advocacy.
Hannah Storm’s Husband and Children
Hannah Storm married sports broadcaster Dan Hicks on January 8, 1994.
The couple met while working at CNN and developed a relationship through their shared interest in sports journalism.
Hicks subsequently became one of NBC Sports’ most recognizable commentators.
He was particularly well known for his coverage of professional golf, Olympic swimming and Notre Dame football.
Storm and Hicks had three daughters named Hannah, Ellery and Riley.
The family lived in Connecticut while both parents maintained demanding broadcasting careers.
Hicks passed away on November 11, 2026, at the age of 64 following an acute illness.
Storm announced the news publicly and remembered her husband as a devoted father and loving partner.
Their marriage lasted more than 32 years.
Hannah Storm’s Parents and Family Legacy
Hannah Storm’s parents played an important role in developing her confidence, professional interests and understanding of sports.
Her father, Mike Storen, helped shape professional basketball through his executive leadership and promotional innovations.
Her mother, Hannah G. Storen, brought her own experience as a college basketball player and later worked in real estate.
Growing up in their household introduced Storm to professional athletes, frequent travel and the business of sports.
Those experiences became valuable when she entered television journalism and began challenging barriers facing women in broadcasting.
Storm eventually built a distinguished career at CNN, NBC, CBS and ESPN.
For readers searching for Hannah Storm’s parents, Mike Storen and Hannah G. Storen are the two individuals who helped shape the broadcaster’s early life.
Their influence remains an important part of her story, connecting her childhood experiences to a career that helped expand opportunities for women in sports journalism.
