The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542201
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 ■ 39 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? at these Amedeo's dinners was becom- ing more impactful each and every time Gannon attended one. The nudge into broadcasting ended up changing Gannon's life forever. He went from a green basketball analyst to one of the most respected voices in all of sports, calling some of the biggest events in the world from majors in golf to the Olympic Games and everything in between. Over the course of a 40-year career, Gannon has carved his own path in the broadcasting industry, developing a deep understanding of sports about which he knew little when he was start- ing out. He has become synonymous with Olympic gymnastics and figure skating, and in February he will add a new entry to his résumé: hosting the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Gannon wouldn't be in this position without the man who took a chance on a dual-sport baseball and basketball star from Joliet, Ill., back in the early 1980s. "Jimmy V is, to this day and other than my parents, the greatest influence on me and my career," Gannon said. "As a coach, he instilled the idea of 'Why not? Somebody's got to do it.' And along the way, it really is why I've said yes to every opportunity." The Early Years When Gannon walked down the Greensboro Coliseum press row ahead of the 1986 ACC Tournament — his first tourney as a member of the media rather than a player — his level of appre- hension rose when he read the placard at the chair next to his. He had been seated next to John Wooden, winner of 10 national championships during his tenure as head coach at UCLA. "I just froze," Gannon said. "I was shocked to realize that he knew who I was." Not only did Wooden know who Gan- non was — the Wolfpack's 1983 national championship run likely helped with that — but he cared about the fledg- ling journalist's opinions. From Mary- land's Len Bias to Georgia Tech's Mark Price, Wooden picked his brain about the ACC's stars while the two sat next to each other courtside. Despite it being a moment from four decades ago, the excitement in Gan- non's voice reverberates as if it hap- pened yesterday. "Here I am talking to the guy who wrote the bible of basketball and did things nobody else does. I was sitting there shaking my head thinking, how did I get here?" Gannon said. "And then I had to go talk for a living on camera, which I didn't know how to do." Welcome To The Industry At first, Gannon wasn't sure what he was even supposed to do in broadcast- ing. There was no manual with step-by- step instructions, and no one was going to hold his hand. He had to figure it out himself. "They hand you a microphone and say, 'Go do it,'" Gannon said. "You ei- ther survive or you don't. Thankfully, I survived and advanced, and started to branch out." Gannon hadn't dreamed of being a sports broadcaster growing up, but he did everything he could to gain experi- ence after graduating from NC State. He was only calling about a dozen ACC or Metro Conference basketball games a year for Jefferson-Pilot and Raycom, so he needed to find other ways to pay the bills while learning on the fly each time TERRY GANNON MEN'S BASKETBALL (1981-85) Age: 62 Living: Los Angeles Occupation: Broadcaster for NBC Sports and the Golf Channel Did you know? Gannon continues to hold NC State's career record for three-point shooting percentage. Among players with at least 75 at- tempts, Gannon's 58.9 percent success rate (53 for 90) is tops in Wolfpack history. Gannon has been part of NBC's coverage of the NBA, teaming up with such basketball luminaries as Reggie Miller. PHOTO COURTESY NBC SPORTS