College basketball analyst Andy Katz has announced the death of his brother, Danny, after a battle with cancer.
“My older brother, Danny Katz, passed away Friday in his New York apartment at the age of 62,” Andy, 58, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, October 11. “He fought a courageous battle against bile duct cancer for nearly four years.”
Andy shared a carousel of photos in tribute to Danny, including one of the pair at Fenway Park, cheering on the Boston Red Sox. He also shared his race bib from the Newport Half Marathon, where he wrote his brother’s initials with a heart, racing in his honor on Sunday.
The Big Ten Network analyst added that he was glad his parents didn’t have to witness his brother’s suffering.
“We shared so many memorable life moments,” Andy wrote. “Losing our parents in each of the previous two years was difficult for us all. But they didn’t have to witness what this terrible disease does to people.”
He continued, “What I choose to remember is the youthful vibrant Danny. He was a college athlete, a high-level runner at [Amherst College]. He went to Penn and Cambridge for law school and Columbia for an MFA so he could pursue his passion of acting. He did both — act and practice law — while being a devoted husband to his wife of 24 years, Meg Parsont.”
Andy added that while he was running in Sunday’s half marathon, he saw a sign from Danny that made him smile.
“I ran my 38th half marathon today in Newport in his honor. If you believe in signs, well, one happened Sunday,” he said. “While I ran along Ocean Drive, the sun came out, two sea gulls flew above and one man was playing the theme to Chariots of Fire, the movie that inspired Danny to run. I smiled wide for the first time in days. Love you Danny. You are now at peace.”
Andy is best known for his time with ESPN, where he worked from 2000 to 2017. One of his most memorable contributions to the network came during Barack Obama’s presidency when he helped the former president fill out his March Madness bracket every year in a recurring segment dubbed “Baracketology.”
His time with ESPN ended in 2017 when he was part of a massive wave of layoffs. In January 2026, he joined fellow veteran college basketball analyst Seth Davis in launching the Hoops HQ Show on Fubo.
Many of his colleagues took to the comments of his post to pay their respects.
“Andy. Appreciate you sharing a wonderful tribute in your brother’s memory,” wrote former ESPN analyst and college basketball coach Steve Lavin. “Sending love & continued grace to Danny’s entire family & circle of friends. ♥️.”
NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach added, “I am so sorry for your loss, Andy. Sending love. ❤️.”
