History of Dick Vitale in Timeline

Dick Vitale is a legendary American sportscaster and former basketball coach, widely regarded as the voice of college basketball. After coaching stints at the University of Detroit and the NBA's Detroit Pistons, he joined ESPN in 1979, the year of the network's inception. Vitale became synonymous with the sport through his exuberant broadcasting style, infectious energy, and signature catchphrases like 'Awesome, baby!' His passionate commentary and deep knowledge of the game transformed college basketball coverage, turning him into a cultural icon. Throughout his career, he has been a relentless advocate for the sport and a prominent fundraiser for pediatric cancer research through the V Foundation. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, Vitale remains one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in sports media history.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

June 9, 1939: Birth of Dick Vitale

On June 9, 1939, Richard John Vitale, later widely recognized as the sportscaster and coach Dickie V, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1958: First Coaching Position

In 1958, Dick Vitale began his coaching career by accepting his first job at an elementary school located in Garfield, New Jersey.

1958: Graduation from East Rutherford High School

In 1958, Dick Vitale successfully completed his secondary education and graduated from East Rutherford High School.

1962: Graduation from Seton Hall University

In 1962, Dick Vitale earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Seton Hall University.

1964: Head Coaching Tenure at East Rutherford Begins

Beginning in 1964, Dick Vitale assumed the role of head coach at his alma mater, East Rutherford High School, where he would go on to coach until 1971.

1971: Conclusion of East Rutherford Coaching Era

By the conclusion of his tenure in 1971, Dick Vitale had amassed a successful record of 131–47 and guided East Rutherford High School to two New Jersey state championships.

1971: Transition to Rutgers University

In 1971, Dick Vitale began his tenure at Rutgers University, serving as an assistant coach under the guidance of head coach Dick Lloyd.

1971: Marriage to Lorraine McGrath

In 1971, Dick Vitale married Lorraine McGrath, a union that would lead to them raising two daughters, Terri and Sherri, and eventually becoming grandparents to five children.

March 31, 1973: Appointed Head Coach at University of Detroit

On March 31, 1973, Dick Vitale was officially named the head coach for the University of Detroit basketball team.

December 15, 1977: Herb Brown Dismissal

On December 15, 1977, Herb Brown was dismissed from his role as head coach of the Detroit Pistons, which eventually paved the way for Dick Vitale to take over the position months later.

1977: Successful 1977 Season and Athletic Director Appointment

During 1977, Vitale led the Detroit Titans to the 32-team NCAA tournament, achieved a 21-game winning streak that included a victory over Marquette, and was promoted to the university's athletic director following the conclusion of the season.

May 1, 1978: Dick Vitale Hired as Detroit Pistons Head Coach

On May 1, 1978, Dick Vitale officially transitioned from coaching the Titans to becoming the head coach of the NBA's Detroit Pistons, securing a three-year contract.

November 8, 1979: Vitale Fired by Detroit Pistons

Following a difficult start to the 1979-80 season with a 4-8 record, Dick Vitale was fired by Pistons owner Bill Davidson on November 8, 1979, ending his tenure as head coach.

December 5, 1979: Dick Vitale's Broadcasting Debut at ESPN

On December 5, 1979, Dick Vitale transitioned from coaching to broadcasting, calling his first-ever college basketball game for the newly launched ESPN cable network. The matchup featured DePaul defeating Wisconsin with a score of 90–77, marking the beginning of Vitale's iconic career as a sports commentator.

1979: Beginning of ESPN Broadcasting Career

In 1979, Dick Vitale began his long-standing and influential tenure as a college basketball broadcaster for the sports network ESPN.

1979: M.L. Carr Transaction and Trade for Bob McAdoo

In 1979, M.L. Carr signed with the Boston Celtics as a free agent. As compensation, Dick Vitale, who was overseeing player personnel for the Detroit Pistons, orchestrated a trade to acquire Bob McAdoo from the Celtics, sending two 1980 first-round draft picks along with Carr to Boston.

1979: Beginning of Duke-UNC Coverage Streak

Starting in 1979, Dick Vitale began an unbroken streak of covering every Duke-UNC basketball game televised by ESPN.

1980: Pistons Record-Setting Season and Draft Pick Implications

During the 1979-80 season, the Detroit Pistons recorded the worst season in their franchise history. Because of the previous trade, the pick they surrendered became the first overall selection in the 1980 NBA Draft, which Boston eventually traded to the Warriors to acquire Robert Parish and Kevin McHale.

1983: Realization of Broadcasting Success at the 1983 Final Four

During the 1983 Final Four, Dick Vitale experienced a pivotal moment of realization regarding his broadcasting career when he observed a high volume of fans requesting his autograph, helping him finally grasp the unique quality and impact that his mentor, Connal, had previously identified in his work.

1984: Final NBA Playoff Coverage of the Era

In 1984, Dick Vitale concluded his primary stint covering NBA playoff games, marking his last televised NBA broadcast until his return to the league in 2009.

1985: Expansion to ABC Broadcasting

In 1985, following the acquisition of ESPN by the American Broadcasting Company, Dick Vitale expanded his broadcasting role to include coverage on the ABC network.

1988: Film and Television Appearances

In 1988, Dick Vitale made a cameo appearance as a baseball commentator in the film The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! alongside a group of broadcasting legends. Additionally, in 1988, he and Jim Valvano appeared as furniture movers in an episode of The Cosby Show titled The Getaway.

1994: Release of Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby!" College Hoops

In 1994, Dick Vitale collaborated with Time Warner Interactive to lend his name, voice, and likeness to the college basketball video game titled Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby!" College Hoops, which was released exclusively for the Sega Genesis in the United States.

1999: Hoops Malone Promo Campaign

In 1999, Dick Vitale appeared in a series of promotional shorts for a project titled "Hoops Malone" on ESPN. Although the network utilized heavy marketing for the sitcom-style shorts featuring Vitale, George Gervin, and a puppet named O'Hoolix, no full episodes were ever developed, leading Vitale to eventually decline a subsequent offer for a legitimate sitcom.

December 2002: Broadcasting the LeBron James Showcase

In December 2002, Dick Vitale provided commentary for a highly anticipated prep basketball game between St. Vincent–St. Mary's and Oak Hill Academy, which served as a national showcase for high school phenomenon LeBron James. Vitale called the game alongside broadcast partner Dan Shulman and NBA legend Bill Walton.

2004: Increased Broadcasting Schedule

During the 2004–05 basketball season, Dick Vitale significantly increased his workload, covering approximately 40 games throughout the year.

2004: Release of Living a Dream

In 2004, Dick Vitale published his autobiography, titled Living a Dream, which was co-authored by Dick Weiss and features reflections on his career at ESPN, his time coaching the Detroit Pistons, and his friendship with Jim Valvano.

Dick Vitale's Living A Dream: Reflections on 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House

Check it on Amazon

January 7, 2009: Return to NBA Broadcasting

On January 7, 2009, Dick Vitale returned to calling NBA games on television for the first time since 1984, joining broadcaster Dan Shulman to call a game between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets as part of an ESPN crew rotation.

2009: Milestone in Broadcasting Career

As of 2009, Dick Vitale reached a significant career milestone, having provided color commentary for nearly one thousand basketball games throughout his storied career.

2010: Conclusion of NCAA Basketball Commentary Role

In 2010, the long-running EA Sports NCAA Basketball video game series, for which Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler had provided commentator voices, was discontinued.

February 2015: Removal from Duke-UNC Broadcast

In February 2015, ESPN made the decision to remove Dick Vitale from his longtime role as the commentator for the Duke-UNC basketball games.

August 2021: Melanoma Diagnosis and Treatment

In August 2021, Dick Vitale announced that he was undergoing medical treatment to remove melanoma after it was discovered by his doctors.

December 2021: Vocal Cord Health Challenges

In December 2021, Vitale was diagnosed with pre-cancerous dysplasia and ulcerous lesions on his vocal cords, leading to a four-month period where he lost his voice following surgery.

January 2022: Hiatus from College Basketball Broadcasting

In January 2022, Dick Vitale announced he would step away from his broadcasting duties for the remainder of the season to focus on resting his voice and preparing for upcoming vocal cord surgery.

August 2022: Cancer Free Announcement

In August 2022, Dick Vitale shared the positive news that his doctors had officially declared him cancer free.

July 2023: Laryngeal Cancer Diagnosis

In July 2023, Vitale announced he had been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and would undergo a six-week course of radiation therapy.

December 2023: Second Cancer Free Milestone

In December 2023, Vitale announced that he was once again cancer free and had received a clean bill of health from his medical team.

2023: ESPN Contract Extension

During the 2023-24 college basketball season, it was confirmed that Dick Vitale remained under contract with ESPN to provide his broadcasting commentary.

June 28, 2024: Lymph Node Cancer Diagnosis

On June 28, 2024, Vitale informed the public that he had been diagnosed with lymph node cancer and would require surgery to address the condition.

May 5, 2025: ESPN Contract Extension

On May 5, 2025, the sports network ESPN officially announced that it had secured Dick Vitale with a two-year contract extension, ensuring his continued involvement with the network through the 2027–28 season.

March 17, 2026: First NCAA Tournament Broadcast

On March 17, 2026, Dick Vitale achieved a career milestone by calling his first-ever NCAA Tournament game. He joined broadcasters Brian Anderson and Charles Barkley in Dayton, Ohio, to provide commentary for a First Four matchup.

April 13, 2026: Melanoma Diagnosis

On April 13, 2026, Vitale announced to his followers that he had been diagnosed with melanoma.

2027: Conclusion of Contract Extension Period

The year 2027 marks a significant point in the duration of the two-year contract extension signed by Dick Vitale, which is set to run through the 2027–28 season as established on May 5, 2025.