R.I.P.: Billy Packer, Legendary College Basketball Announcer

Billy Packer (1940-2023)

Longtime college basketball broadcaster Billy Packer, who was a part of 34 Final Fours for NBC and CBS, died Thursday at the age of 82.

“The Packer Family would like to share some sad news,” tweeted his son Mark, who hosts a show on the ACC Network. “Our amazing father, Billy, has passed. We take peace knowing that he’s in heaven with Barb. RIP, Billy.”

Packer — who in 1993 received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Analyst — worked with many of the top play-by-play broadcasters of his era, including Curt Gowdy, Dick Enberg, Brent Musburger and Jim Nantz.

The Packer Family would like to share some sad news. Our amazing father, Billy, has passed. We take peace knowing that he’s in heaven with Barb. RIP, Billy. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/uFRixmgCcd

— Mark Packer (@MarkPacker) January 27, 2023

Packer also wrote multiple books. One of his best known was the memoir “Hoops: Confessions of a College Basketball Analyst” in 1985.

Before Packer became a nationally recognized analyst, he had a solid playing career at Wake Forest, helping lead the Demon Deacons to the 1962 Final Four.

In 1972, he began his broadcasting career in Raleigh, N.C. He made his leap to the national level at NBC in 1974 and remained there until 1981.

From there, Packer joined CBS, where he remained until his retirement in 2008. He called every NCAA men’s basketball tournament, including the Final Four, from 1975 to 2008.