From Boyhood Dream to Broadcasting Legend: Jim Nantz Visits Belmont

The man who made ‘Hello, friends’ and ‘a tradition unlike any other’ household phrases offers candid insights on career, faith and the art of storytelling

Renowned CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz, whose distinctive voice has narrated some of America's most iconic sporting moments for nearly four decades, visited Belmont last month to share insights from his remarkable career with students. In a candid conversation moderated by University Provost Dr. David Gregory, Nantz offered a glimpse into the preparation, passion and purpose that have defined his career.

Nantz, who has been the voice of the NFL on CBS, the Masters, the NCAA Final Four and countless other major sporting events since 1985, is widely recognized for his thoughtful storytelling approach and his signature "Hello, friends" greeting. During his candid hour-long conversation with students, the broadcasting legend shared intimate stories from his 40-year career, offered practical advice on breaking into the industry and revealed the personal values that have been his guide from a college volunteer to one of the most trusted voices in American sports.

What principles have guided your successful career in sports broadcasting?

"I think it's important to be prepared and to be a voice for the fan," Nantz explained, emphasizing his commitment to helping viewers connect with the athletes and events they're watching. "I want people to have a reason to root for them. I like to bring humanity to a broadcast."

Nantz revealed that his approach differs from many in the industry, which has served as his north star throughout his career. "I'm not a negative guy. I've never had a negative slant in my life, so I'm not a guy that's in the scoop business. I leave that to the studio people. I'm not a hot take guy. I want to build people up."

How do you prepare for broadcasts of this magnitude?

“Recently, we had 57 million people watch the Chiefs-Bills broadcast, which is staggering. A year ago, we [CBS] had the Super Bowl...and we had 123 million people watch the Chiefs in the 49ers game.

"I read all day long," he said, detailing his relentless pursuit of information gathering. "I have an iPad that probably needs to be replaced. It's 100 years old… I've got a blister on my pointer finger from just scanning, scanning all day long."

Beyond reading, Nantz emphasized the importance of personal connections. "Talking to people is your best prep, and that is without cameras, not recorded. That is just an honest sit-down trust with the players and coaches." These relationships, built over decades in the industry, provide the foundation for his storytelling.

When did you know you wanted to pursue broadcasting?

Nantz knew from age 11 that he wanted to be a broadcaster, drawn to the voices he heard on television. "I was just mesmerized by the voices, completely enchanted by how they had so much knowledge,” he said. "They brought the world to me. When I was young, and there were sporting events coming into my living room –– say the Olympic Games from Innsbruck, Austria, or this show called 'Wild World of Sports' from the Great Wall of China –– I got a chance to see what that felt like. These broadcasters were my tour guides, and I wanted to be one of them. I didn't have any strong desire to be on television, though. It was always about the story. I wanted to be a storyteller."

How does your faith inform your work?

"I was born in a very strong Christian faith family," Nantz explained. "My mom was raised a Southern Baptist in Charlotte [North Carolina]. My dad a Methodist, and he went to church every Sunday, prayed before every meal, prayed at bedtime. Rituals that I still try to pass along to my children every day.

"I start my day every day with a prayer, a lot of different messages, but one that's consistent, always there is the prayer of gratitude for so many things, including being entrusted with the boyhood dream, to be able to be a voice to America on a lot of its biggest championships."

What is the story behind your famous "Hello, friends" greeting?

One of Nantz's most recognizable trademarks is the way he opens broadcasts with a gentle "Hello, friends."

"My dad suffered from Alzheimer's, and he was fading by the week, even though he had the long version of it, 13 years he suffered. I would play games with him to try to keep his mind sharp."

During one visit to his father's assisted living facility, Nantz told him, "When I come on the air, I want you to know I'm going to look into that lens tomorrow, and I'm going to say 'Hello, friends.' And when I say that, it's for you."

"My dad's been gone now for 17 years. When I come on the air, I'm looking at that lens, and I still see my father looking back at me with pride. Makes me feel good."

How do you approach storytelling, particularly in golf?

As the lead anchor for CBS golf coverage, including the Masters, Nantz credits an unexpected influence for his storytelling approach.

"If I had to define my occupation, it's storyteller," he explained. "I really learned the art of storytelling from a pastor in my youth at a reformed church in a little farming community in Central Jersey. He had a beginning, a middle and then the payoff at the end that tied everything together.

“Take golf. Anchoring golf, there's a bigger challenge because you have longer stretches of time between shots, particularly late in the round when there are fewer people on the golf course."

These moments provide Nantz the perfect canvas for storytelling. "That's where I still feel [my childhood pastor] in my head, and knowing that it's this story, you set it up, you give the background on it and then you pay it off."

How have you given back to communities that have shaped you?

Throughout the conversation, Nantz emphasized the importance of giving back, from his Alzheimer's research center to his support of public golf courses in Nashville. One of his proudest achievements, Provost Gregory noted in his opening, is the creation of the Nantz National Alzheimer’s Center at Houston Methodist Hospital. Named for Jim’s dad, the Center provides hope and treatment for those suffering from the disease.

"This was my life's mission, to find a way to defeat the opponent that defeated my dad," Nantz shared. "So, I opened this center. I funded it, got it started. We're in year 14 right now, and the last two years have been epic developments in Alzheimer's research, getting our arms around this thing finally."

More recently, Nantz has supported golf in his adopted hometown, Nashville, significantly contributing to the renovations of the Percy Warner and Ted Rhodes courses.

"The art of giving is biblical," Nantz reflected. "It is a part of you. You'll never regret giving things to make people happy and to make a difference. It does come back to you in so many wonderful ways. Nobody's keeping score, but I'm telling you, we each have a chance to alter in a positive way so many lives."

What advice do you have for students pursuing careers in broadcasting or other fields?

Nantz emphasized the importance of maximizing educational opportunities and creating breaks through volunteer work.

"When I speak to college students, these are really important years right now," he advised. "I worked myself to death. The last 540-some-odd days of my college life, including the summers, I never had a day off. I took every opportunity that was out there, and I volunteered. By the time I graduated, I had worked on television in that market for two years. I think my senior year in college, I was the voice for NASA, when NASA had a bigger role in America than it does now. I did all their documentaries."

Nantz offered a proactive and practical approach for students looking to break into competitive fields. "Find a way. Literally go knock on the door. Introduce yourself and hand a resume to someone. Sitting back and emailing someone, that's a faceless transaction, and expecting they'll call you back — your resume might be a world-beater, but they have to see you."

Nantz's parting advice reinforced the values that have defined his career: preparedness, integrity, and giving your best effort. "You never know who's watching your work. You always give it 100%. You do it because you're proud of yourself, you're proud of the effort you've made."

As Nantz concluded his visit, he expressed admiration for the University. "This place is awesome. I've been around your campus a few times. I think it beats all. I mean, it is classy. It just sparkles everywhere you look. The kids are first class, the highest integrity. I tell people all the time, you’ve gotta check out Belmont."