Jack Nolan’s career in broadcast journalism brought many memorable moments, a shelf full of awards, a slew of friends—and established him as one of the most recognizable faces of Notre Dame athletics.

Nolan was a staple around Notre Dame football and men’s basketball games for close to 40 years. He was honored with numerous awards as both a news and sports anchor, served as master of ceremonies for countless Fighting Irish special events and developed a broad following before his retirement at the end of the 2020-21 men’s basketball season.

“I have been truly blessed to have been associated with the Notre Dame Athletics Department for 39 seasons,” Nolan said upon retiring. “I will be forever grateful to all the athletes, coaches, colleagues and fans who have been so wonderful to me over the years. However, the time has come for my wife Rhonda and I to live a more normal life. We hope to indulge our passion for travel.”

That latter desire was realized this year with a 111-day, around-the-world cruise.

Nolan joined the South Bend community in 1982 with his arrival at WNDU. 

He had an immediate award-winning impact on the ND football broadcast crew, taking home Associated Press play-by-play awards in 1983, 1987 and 1989.

Nolan also anchored the WNDU sports desk throughout the 1980s and ’90s, while adding in weekend news anchor duties in 1993. He met his future wife, Rhonda Brown, while working together and the couple co-anchored WNDU’s NewsCenter 16 Sunday Morning from 1996 through 2002.

Jack’s long run with Notre Dame men’s basketball began in 1982 on both radio and television; he became the regular radio analyst, then served as the play-by-play voice for the Notre Dame Radio Network from 2006-21.

Nolan soon became synonymous with Irish athletics both over the air and online, hosting the Brian Kelly and Mike Brey television and radio shows, checking in from Irish football practices and calling numerous Notre Dame Olympic sporting events. From 1982 through 1999 he co-hosted WNDU’s popular SportsTalk show—with the late Jeff Jeffers and also Chuck Freeby—and was the host of the Official Notre Dame Football Post Game Show for over 25 seasons.

“Jack Nolan has been with us since I started at Notre Dame and it is hard to think about our broadcasts without him,” now-retired men’s basketball coach Mike Brey said on Jack’s retirement. “His professionalism has made my job easier and his broadcast calls are as much a part of our basketball legacy as ‘The Burrn’ or the three-point shot. I will miss having him around the program, but if anyone deserves the ability to enjoy a long and happy retirement it is Jack and Rhonda.”

Nolan worked with such notables as Reggie Brooks and the late Mirko Jurkovic for several seasons both on radio and und.com as part of his broadcast crew. LaPhonso Ellis and Jordan Cornette began their broadcast careers with Nolan on Notre Dame men’s basketball radio. 

Nolan’s tireless work was honored in November 2015 when he won the Outstanding Crafts Achievement Emmy for On-Camera Talent-Sports awarded by the Chicago Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He also won four Associated Press play-by-play awards for his work on Notre Dame men’s basketball TV and radio broadcasts.

Nolan was awarded an Honorary Monogram by the University in 2013.