Ayrton Oneill
Jim Nantz is an American sportscaster who has worked on telecasts of the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men's basketball, the NBA, and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s. He has been a staple of March Madness, with his voice becoming synonymous with the event for multiple generations of college basketball viewers and fans. However, Nantz decided to step away from basketball coverage in 2023 to spend more time with his family and focus on other broadcasting commitments. While he is no longer calling the NCAA Tournament, he continues to work as a broadcaster for the NFL, Super Bowl, and golf.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for absence in 2024 March Madness | To focus on family and other broadcasting commitments |
| First absence in | 2023 |
| Replacement | Ian Eagle |
| Nantz's role | Lead play-by-play announcer |
| Nantz's catchphrase | "Hello, friends" |
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What You'll Learn
- Jim Nantz stepped away from basketball coverage to spend more time with his family
- Nantz's last Final Four was in 2023, when UConn beat San Diego State
- Ian Eagle replaced Nantz as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS
- Nantz's voice and catchphrase Hello, friends became synonymous with March Madness
- Nantz has not retired from broadcasting and continues to cover the NFL and golf
Jim Nantz stepped away from basketball coverage to spend more time with his family
Jim Nantz is a well-known and beloved sports broadcaster who has been covering the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, the Final Four, and the NCAA Championship Game for CBS since 1986. In 2023, Nantz announced that he would be stepping away from basketball coverage to spend more time with his family and focus on other broadcasting commitments.
Nantz's distinctive voice and warm greeting of "Hello, friends" have become synonymous with the tournament for multiple generations of college basketball viewers and fans. His decision to step away from basketball coverage came after a lengthy and memorable run, which included a record 31 national championship games, 96 Final Four matchups, and almost 400 total tournament contests.
Nantz's absence from the 2024 March Madness broadcasting crew was highly noticeable to fans, as he had been a staple of the tournament for many years. However, Nantz's decision to prioritize his family and other commitments in his career was understood and respected by many.
While Nantz has stepped away from basketball coverage, he has not retired from broadcasting altogether. He continues to call The Masters and serves as the lead play-by-play commentator for CBS's NFL coverage, working alongside Tony Romo. Nantz has expressed his intention to continue broadcasting for many years to come, committing to a reduced schedule of about 40 weeks a year.
Nantz's replacement in the lead play-by-play role for the NCAA Tournament, Final Four, and national championship game is Ian Eagle, who joined CBS in 1998 and has extensive experience as a broadcaster for college basketball, the NFL, and the NBA.
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Nantz's last Final Four was in 2023, when UConn beat San Diego State
Jim Nantz is a well-known American sportscaster who has been working on telecasts of the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men's basketball, the NBA, and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s. He has been the lead broadcaster for the NCAA men's basketball tournament since 1990.
However, Nantz decided that the 2023 NCAA Tournament would be his last. He wanted to focus on his family and other broadcasting commitments. Nantz's last Final Four was in 2023, when UConn beat San Diego State by a score of 76-59 in the national championship game.
Nantz's voice became synonymous with the tournament, but he chose to step away from basketball coverage to spend more time with his family. During his career, he called 354 NCAA tournament games, including 96 Final Four matchups and 32 title games.
Nantz has not retired from broadcasting altogether. He continues to call The Masters and serves as the lead play-by-play commentator for CBS' NFL coverage, alongside Tony Romo. He also plans to continue broadcasting golf tournaments.
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![Always by My Side (08) by Nantz, Jim [Hardcover (2008)]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21DsWbhn4DL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Ian Eagle replaced Nantz as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS
Jim Nantz is a well-known American sportscaster who has worked on telecasts of the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men's basketball, the NBA, and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s. He became the lead voice for CBS' coverage of the NCAA Tournament in 1991, serving as the No. 1 play-by-play man who called every Final Four since.
However, in October 2022, Nantz announced his intention to step away from basketball coverage to spend more time with his family. He decided that the 2023 NCAA Tournament would be his last. This meant that a new play-by-play voice was needed for CBS' top team for the 2024 March Madness tournament.
Ian Eagle, who joined CBS in 1998 as a play-by-play announcer for college basketball and the NFL, was chosen to succeed Nantz as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS and TNT Sports' coverage of the NCAA Tournament. Eagle, an American sports announcer, had already established a comfortable rapport with color commentator Bill Raftery, who he worked with for several years on New Jersey Nets broadcasts. Eagle's first tournament as the top play-by-play broadcaster was the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Eagle's transition to the top team was made easier by his familiarity with Raftery, Grant Hill, and Tracy Wolfson. He had previously worked with Raftery and Hill on Nets broadcasts, and Wolfson was the NFL on CBS sideline reporter. Eagle's experience and rapport with his colleagues ensured a smooth transition to the lead play-by-play role, filling the void left by Nantz's absence.
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Nantz's voice and catchphrase Hello, friends became synonymous with March Madness
Jim Nantz, the American sportscaster, has been the lead broadcaster for the NCAA men's basketball tournament since 1990. Nantz's voice and catchphrase, "Hello, friends," have become synonymous with March Madness. His catchphrase, which he uses at the beginning of his broadcasts, is directed at his late father, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease in the early 2000s. Nantz's sign-off, "Thank you for being my friend," has also become well-known.
Nantz's career as the lead voice for CBS's college basketball coverage ended in 2023, with the 2023 NCAA Tournament being his last. He decided to step away from the competition to focus on his family and other broadcasting commitments. Nantz's final game as the voice of March Madness was a fitting full-circle moment, as it took place in Houston, the city where he attended college, played golf, and studied broadcasting.
Nantz's absence from the 2024 March Madness broadcasting crew was highly noticeable to fans, who had come to associate his voice and catchphrase with the postseason competition. Nantz has called 37 March Madnesses, 355 games, and 32 Final Fours over the course of his illustrious career. His voice is synonymous with the NCAA Tournament, just as John Madden's was with Thanksgiving football.
While Nantz is no longer the lead broadcaster for March Madness, he continues to work as the lead play-by-play voice of the NFL for CBS, as well as the voice for The Masters and other major golf events. Ian Eagle has taken over as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS's coverage of the NCAA Tournament, alongside Bill Raftery and Jim Hill.
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Nantz has not retired from broadcasting and continues to cover the NFL and golf
Jim Nantz is a well-known American sportscaster who has been working in broadcasting since the 1980s. He has covered a variety of sports, including the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men's basketball, the NBA, and golf. While Nantz has decided to step away from broadcasting basketball games, he has not retired from broadcasting altogether.
In October 2022, Nantz announced his intention to stop covering basketball games in order to spend more time with his family and focus on other broadcasting commitments. His decision came after nearly 40 years of calling NCAA Tournament games, including a record 31 national championship games and 96 Final Four matchups. Nantz's warm and friendly style, including his signature greeting of "Hello, friends", made him a beloved figure among basketball fans.
Despite stepping away from basketball, Nantz continues to be actively involved in sports broadcasting. He remains one of the top play-by-play announcers in sports and serves as the lead play-by-play commentator for CBS's NFL coverage. Alongside his broadcast partner, Tony Romo, Nantz has called multiple Super Bowls, including Super Bowl 58 in February. Nantz also has a deep passion for golf, and he continues to cover The Masters and other major golf tournaments.
Nantz's decision to step away from basketball broadcasting reflects his desire to strike a balance between his work and personal life. By reducing his schedule to approximately 40 weeks a year, he can dedicate more time to his family and other commitments while still pursuing his passion for sports broadcasting in the NFL and golf. Nantz's ongoing presence in these sports underscores his enduring legacy and popularity in the world of sports broadcasting.
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Frequently asked questions
Jim Nantz decided to step away from basketball coverage to spend more time with his family and focus on other broadcasting commitments. He has not retired from broadcasting altogether and continues to cover the NFL and golf.
Jim Nantz's last basketball broadcast was in 2023. He called the Final Four and national championship game, with UConn’s 76-59 win over San Diego State in the national championship game.
Ian Eagle replaced Jim Nantz as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS. He calls all rounds of the NCAA Tournament, including the Final Four, alongside analysts Bill Raftery and Grant Hill, and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.
