Jim Valvano

Jim Valvano – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

: Discover the inspiring life of Jim Valvano — famous American college basketball coach, broadcaster, and motivator. Read his biography, career milestones, legacy, and unforgettable quotes like “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”

Introduction

Jim Valvano — often known as “Jimmy V” — remains a touchstone of hope, grit, and boundless enthusiasm in both the world of college basketball and in motivational speaking. Though his life was cut short, his message continues to inspire people far beyond the courts: to live with passion, resist despair, and never surrender inner strength. His story stands not just as a sports biography but as a lesson in character, legacy, and the power of words.

Early Life and Family

James Thomas Anthony Valvano was born on March 10, 1946, in Queens, New York. Rocco and Angelina Valvano, and grew up in a working-class family of strong devotion and cultural pride.

Raised in the New York area, Valvano excelled in athletics in high school at Seaford (on Long Island), where he played multiple sports. His formative years imbued him with a determination to create opportunity and to uplift others around him.

Youth and Education

Valvano attended Rutgers University, where he played as a point guard from 1964 to 1967.

His time at Rutgers helped cement his philosophy: sports was not only about winning games, but also about teaching life lessons, character, and human connection. He carried this perspective into every coaching role.

Career and Achievements

Early Coaching and Rise

Soon after finishing his college playing career, Valvano began working as a coach. He served as an assistant at Rutgers and then took a head coach position at Johns Hopkins (1969–1970). Bucknell (1972–1975). Iona College from 1975 to 1980.

His work at Iona raised his national profile. The program’s success made him an attractive candidate for a higher-profile job.

NC State & the 1983 Miracle

In 1980, Valvano was hired as head coach at North Carolina State University (NC State).

His crowning achievement came in 1983, when his underdog NC State team stunned all expectations to win the NCAA Championship, defeating the heavily favored Houston Cougars in the final seconds.

Under his leadership, NC State also captured ACC Tournament titles (1983, 1987) and ACC regular season titles (1985, 1989). ACC Coach of the Year in 1989.

Challenges, Controversy, and Departure

In 1989, NC State faced allegations of rules violations tied to one of its recruits, Chris Washburn.

Valvano resigned as athletic director in October 1989 under pressure, though he remained as head coach during the 1989–90 season.

Broadcasting and Later Work

After his coaching career, Valvano became a broadcaster and public speaker. He worked with ESPN and ABC, serving as a basketball analyst and sideline reporter. JTV Enterprises to manage his entrepreneurial and speaking projects.

In 1992, he received the Cable ACE Award as Commentator/Analyst for NCAA basketball broadcasts.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Valvano’s 1983 NC State championship is frequently cited among the greatest upsets in NCAA basketball history.

• In 1993, at the first ever ESPY Awards, Valvano accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award while publicly battling metastatic cancer.

• It was during that speech that he announced the creation of the V Foundation for Cancer Research and delivered his timeless call: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”

• Each year, the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance is presented during the ESPYs in his honor.

• In 2023, Valvano was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizing both his contributions to the game and his larger legacy.

• NC State’s Reynolds Coliseum was renamed James T. Valvano Arena at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum in tribute.

Legacy and Influence

Jim Valvano’s legacy transcends basketball.

The V Foundation

Founded in 1993, The V Foundation for Cancer Research raises millions to fund cancer research across the United States. “Don’t Give Up… Don’t Ever Give Up”, was coined by Valvano during his speech at the ESPYs.

Even decades after his death, the foundation continues to grant funds and rally support for cancer research.

Inspirational & Cultural Impact

Valvano’s words and spirit remain powerful in motivational and leadership circles. His “laugh, think, cry” mantra is widely quoted, used in speeches, books, and social media. Jimmy V Award keeps his name alive in sports culture, honoring those who overcome significant obstacles.

His story reminds audiences that courage, purpose, and heart matter more than wins and losses.

Personality and Talents

Jim Valvano was known for his exuberance, intensity, and emotional authenticity. He was not a reserved coach—he hugged players, spoke candidly, laughed loudly, and cried when moved.

He was a gifted communicator: whether on the court or behind a microphone, he connected deeply with people. He valued vulnerability and believed that emotion was an essential part of human life.

Valvano also believed in enthusiasm—he often said that nothing meaningful happens without it.

In private, he faced immense suffering from cancer, yet he maintained a fierce mental resilience. He declared that cancer could take his physical strength, but not his mind, heart, or soul.

Famous Quotes of Jim Valvano

Here are some of Jim Valvano’s most memorable lines that continue to inspire:

• “Don’t give up… don’t ever give up.”

• “To me, there are three things we all should do every day. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears… If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day.”

• “Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind; it cannot touch my heart; it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.”

• “If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day.”

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

• “There are 86,400 seconds in a day. It’s up to you to decide what to do with them.”

• “Nothing can happen if it’s not first a dream.”

• “How enthusiastic are you every day, every day in your profession?”

These quotes capture his core philosophy: live fully, believe deeply, and never surrender your spirit.

Lessons from Jim Valvano

1. Count emotional richness as a success. Valvano measured a meaningful day not by victory, but by laughter, thought, and tears.

2. Adversity does not define you. Though he faced terminal illness, he refused to let it overshadow his purpose or identity.

3. Legacy is built in giving. His founding of The V Foundation turned his suffering into ongoing hope for others.

4. Inspire through authenticity. His openness — the humanness he displayed — made him more than a coach; he became a beacon.

5. Hold dreams with fierce work. Belief without effort is empty. Valvano emphasized both dreaming and grinding.

Conclusion

Jim Valvano’s life cuts across sports, culture, and human spirit. While his time on earth lasted only 47 years (he passed away on April 28, 1993), laugh, think, cry, and, above all, never give up.

His story remains an invitation: to live fiercely, serve generously, and believe that even in our darkest moments, we can spark hope in others.