James Thomas Anthony Valvano (March 10, 1946 - April 28, 1993), nicknamed Jimmy V, was an American college basketball coach. While the head coach at North Carolina State University, he won the 1983 NCAA National Championship.
He coached 19 seasons, 9 with N.C. State, before becoming a broadcaster for ESPN and ABC.
Valvano died at the age of 47 after a yearlong battle with cancer. Shortly before his death, he spoke at the first annual ESPY awards, presented by ESPN. There he announced the creation of the "V Foundation", an organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer.
Every year, four college basketball teams compete in the "Jimmy V Basketball Classic". Money raised during this event goes to funding the V Foundation.
A 1996 TV-movie titled Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story, starred Anthony LaPaglia as Valvano.
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