Jim Valvano

James Thomas Anthony Valvano ( born March 10, 1946 in New York City; † 28 April 1993), known as Jimmy V, was an American basketball coach. He is best known for his time as coach of North Carolina State University, with whom he won the 1983 NCAA Championship.

After studying at Rutgers University ( 1964-67 ) was Valvano coach at Johns Hopkins University. The team managed thanks to him the first season in 24 years with a positive balance. From 1972 to 1975, Valvano coach at Bucknell University, and 1975-1980 at Iona College. He then moved to North Carolina State. In the 1983 finals the team as underdogs beat the Cougars of the University of Houston to Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. The dunk by Lorenzo Charles applies shortly before the end of the 54:52 - Full Time as one of the most famous and iconic moments in the history of the NCAA Basketball Championship.

In 1990, Valvano as a commentator for ESPN and working there until shortly before his death. After ten months of fighting cancer Valvano died at just 47 years. He was considered one of the most talented coach college basketball. Shortly before his death founded Valvano with the support of ESPN's " Jimmy V " for cancer research foundation.