After serving as NBC's prime-time Olympic host since 1992, Bob Costas is stepping down and handing duties over to Mike Tirico beginning with the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, NBC announced Thursday.
"I'm going to be like the rest of the country, watching Mike Tirico, who will be an able successor in Korea for the Winter Olympics beginning a year from today,'' Costas told Matt Lauer on TODAY Thursday.
The two broadcasters also have a special connection through their college alma mater. Tirico was the first recipient of the annual scholarship in Costas's name at Syracuse University.
"Someone who I grew up idolizing,'' Tirico said about Costas on TODAY Thursday. "I went to Syracuse in large part for college because Bob did. I received a Bob Costas scholarship 30 years ago."
During his award-winning 25-year stint, Costas hosted 11 Olympics between the Summer and Winter Games. He's won 27 Emmy Awards, more than any sports broadcaster in history.
"Bob has long been the gold-standard of Olympic hosts," NBC Olympics executive producer Jim Bell said in a statement. "We thank him for his unmatched work on the signature event in sports television, and we’re thrilled to have Mike, with decades of big-event experience, on our team and excited to step in."
Costas, who has been with NBC for 37 years, will continue to serve in multiple roles with NBC Sports and NBC News.
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