Daniel Patrick “Dan” Hicken is an American television and radio sports broadcaster who has worked in Jacksonville, Florida, since 1986. He served as a sports anchor and director for WTLV/WJXX and later joined Wjax-TV/Wfox-TV, while also hosting sports radio on 1010 XL and 92.5 FM.
Background
Hicken was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Miami, Florida. He attended Miami Sunset Senior High School, where he participated in water polo and was recognized as an honorable-mention all-county athlete during his senior year.
His early connection with Florida sports continued at the University of Florida, from which he graduated before beginning his broadcasting career in Jacksonville. He has remained publicly associated with the Florida Gators and with sports coverage throughout the state.
Education
Hicken attended Miami Sunset Senior High School in Miami, a public secondary school serving the southwestern Miami area, before continuing to the University of Florida. The university, founded in 1853 and based in Gainesville, became one of the leading public research institutions in the southeastern United States and is closely associated with the Florida Gators athletic program.
After graduating from the University of Florida, Hicken entered television broadcasting in Jacksonville. His education and continuing ties to Florida athletics preceded a career focused on regional college and professional sports coverage.
Hicken began his television career with an internship at 12 News on WTLV in Jacksonville after graduating from the University of Florida. He became a sports producer in 1986, a weekend sports anchor in 1988, and sports director in 1991. WTLV, an NBC-affiliated Jacksonville television station, later operated its news organization jointly with WJXX under the First Coast News brand.
From 1986 through 2013, Hicken worked for WTLV and WJXX as a sports reporter, anchor, sports director, and evening anchor. His coverage included The Players Championship, Jacksonville Jaguars games, the Daytona 500, Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles championship events, and other major competitions with a Florida connection. During part of this period he also hosted the radio program “The Drill” on WJXL.
After leaving First Coast News in 2013, Hicken joined Jacksonville’s Wjax-TV and Wfox-TV, later associated with Action News Jax. A six-month non-compete provision delayed his return to on-air work; during that period he wrote, produced, and developed sports stories behind the scenes. He subsequently resumed television sports anchoring and has continued presenting local sports coverage.
Hicken has also worked in radio for 1010 XL and 92.5 FM, where he has hosted weekday sports programming since the station’s launch in 2007. His broadcasting has combined television reporting, studio anchoring, event coverage, interviews, and sports commentary.
Achievements
Hicken was selected as a voting sports journalist for the Heisman Trophy, reflecting his established role in the sports-media community.
He won a regional Emmy Award for a television series about Jacksonville’s effort to obtain a National Football League franchise.
His sports broadcasting has included coverage of The Players Championship, Jacksonville Jaguars games, the Daytona 500, and national championship events involving the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles.
Membership
Hicken has participated in community and charitable activities connected with Jacksonville sports and youth organizations, including events benefiting the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation and the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation. He has also served as a master of ceremonies or participant in benefit golf tournaments and other charitable events.
Participated in charitable activities benefiting families affected by childhood leukemia.
Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation
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United States
Participated in events supporting youth academic achievement and life skills through tennis.
MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation
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United States
Interests
He participates in and hosts benefit golf tournaments and charity events, and has maintained an interest in Florida college athletics and Jacksonville sports.
Sport & Clubs
Hicken has expressed long-standing support for the Florida Gators, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Mets.
Connections
Hicken married Reagan Dowling on March 16, 2003. They have a son, Brooks, and Hicken also has two children, Danielle and Drew, from his previous marriage to Donna Deegan.
Wife:
Reagan Dowling
Special education teacher in Jacksonville; married Hicken on March 16, 2003.
Wife:
Donna Deegan
Former spouse and Jacksonville television news anchor; mother of Danielle and Drew Hicken.
Daughter:
Danielle Hicken
Son:
Drew Hicken
Son:
Brooks Hicken
Son of Hicken and Reagan Dowling.
References
Dan Hicken - 1010XL & 92.5FM
Professional profile describing Hicken’s Jacksonville television career, his work for WTLV/WJXX and WJAX-TV/WFOX-TV, and his radio broadcasting on 1010 XL and 92.5 FM.
Dan Hicken, Action Sports Jax - Action News Jax
Station biography documenting Hicken’s role as a sports anchor, his radio program, his family, and his continuing work in Jacksonville sports media.
Good Sport
Profile covering Hicken’s move from First Coast News to CBS47/FOX30, the effect of his non-compete clause, and his return to on-air sports anchoring.
2014
Dan Hicken
Biographical reference giving Hicken’s full name, birth information, Buffalo birthplace, marriage date, and regional Emmy recognition.
