Jim Valvano

Jim Valvano
Valvano in 1982
Biographical details
Born(1946-03-10)March 10, 1946
Queens, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 28, 1993(1993-04-28) (aged 47)
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
1964–1967Rutgers
Position(s)Point guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1967–1969Rutgers (assistant)
1969–1970Johns Hopkins
1970–1972Connecticut (assistant)
1972–1975Bucknell
1975–1980Iona
1980–1990NC State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1977–1980Iona
1986–1989NC State
Head coaching record
Overall346–210
Tournaments12–8 (NCAA Division I)
0–1 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA Division I tournament (1983)
NCAA Division I Regional – Final Four (1983)
2 ACC tournament (1983, 1987)
2 ACC regular season (1985, 1989)
Awards
ACC Coach of The Year (1989)
Arthur Ashe Courage Award (1993)

James Thomas Anthony Valvano (March 10, 1946 – April 28, 1993), nicknamed Jimmy V, was an American college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster.[1][2]

Valvano had a successful coaching career with multiple schools, culminating at NC State. While the head coach at NC State, his team won the 1983 NCAA Division I men's basketball title against improbable odds.[3][4][5] Valvano is remembered for his ecstatic celebration after winning the national championship game against the heavily favored Houston Cougars.

Valvano is also remembered for an inspirational and memorable speech delivered at the 1993 ESPY Awards while terminally ill with cancer. Valvano implored the audience to laugh, think, and cry each day and announced the formation of The V Foundation for Cancer Research whose motto would be "Don't give up. Don't ever give up".[6] He gave the speech less than two months before his death from adenocarcinoma.[7] The ESPY Awards now include the Jimmy V Award named in his honor. Each year, a college basketball event called the Jimmy V Classic is held in his honor and in support of cancer victims and survivors.

  1. ^ Smith, Gary (January 11, 1993). "As time runs out". Sports Illustrated. (cover story). p. 10.
  2. ^ Wojciechowski, Gene (April 29, 1993). "Valvano succumbs to cancer". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). (Los Angeles Times). p. 1A.
  3. ^ Kirkpatrick, Curry (April 11, 1983). "State had the stuff". Sports Illustrated. p. 18.
  4. ^ "Wolfpack miracle rules land". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. April 5, 1983. p. 1D.
  5. ^ "Wolfpack stuffs Cougars for title". Milwaukee Sentinel. April 5, 1983. p. 1–part 2.
  6. ^ Full Video & Transcript of ESPY speech Archived 2011-12-03 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Smith, Gary (May 10, 1993). "Jimmy Vee hung in there". Sports Illustrated. p. 72.