Jim Valvano

Date of Birth: March 10, 1946

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: April 28, 1993

Biography

James Thomas Anthony Valvano, commonly known as Jim Valvano or “Jimmy V,” was an American college basketball coach and broadcaster. Born on March 10, 1946, in Corona, Queens, New York, Valvano is best remembered for his exuberant personality, motivational speeches, and his incredible coaching success. He began his coaching career at Johns Hopkins University and later moved to Bucknell, Iona, and then North Carolina State University (NC State). It was at NC State where Valvano achieved his most significant success, leading the team to a historic NCAA Championship victory in 1983. His team’s underdog story and his impassioned celebration are iconic moments in sports history. After his coaching career, Valvano became a well-respected broadcaster for ESPN and ABC Sports. In 1992, Valvano was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer. Despite his illness, he continued to inspire millions through his positive outlook and motivational messages. In 1993, he founded the V Foundation for Cancer Research, which has since raised millions of dollars for cancer research. Jim Valvano passed away on April 28, 1993, but his legacy continues to live on through his contributions to sports and his enduring fight against cancer.

5 Interesting Facts about Jim Valvano

1. Jim Valvano led NC State to an unexpected NCAA Championship in 1983, defeating the heavily favored Houston Cougars in the final.

2. He gave one of the most famous speeches in sports history at the 1993 ESPY Awards, where he announced the creation of the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

3. Valvano was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 posthumously.

4. He published an autobiography titled “Valvano: They Gave Me a Lifetime Contract, and Then They Declared Me Dead” in 1991.

5. Jim Valvano’s jersey number (23) was retired by Rutgers University, where he played as a point guard from 1964 to 1967.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jim Valvano

1. “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”

2. “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.”

3. “To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. Number two is think. Number three is you should have your emotions moved to tears.”

4. “How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? You have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal. And you have to be willing to work for it.”

5. “Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul.”