How much was Jim Valvano worth?
| Net Worth: | $8 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Basketball Coach |
| Date of Birth: | March 10, 1946 |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | Unknown |
About Jim Valvano
Jimmy V, also known as James Thomas Anthony Valvano, was an American college basketball player, coach, and commentator who lived from March 10, 1946, until April 28, 1993. His estimated net worth was $8 million. It’s simple to overlook Jim Valvano’s reputation as an advocate for cancer research due to how well-known he is today. Here is a look at Jimmy V’s life, career, and legacy.
From 1964 through 1967, Valvano, a Long Island, New York, native, played point guard for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The 1967 team, which featured All-American Bob Lloyd in the backcourt, finished third in the National Invitation Tournament.
Soon after graduating, he started his head coaching career at Johns Hopkins. The school has not had a winning season in 24 years before his 10-9 record. Before accepting the position that would make him famous—head coach of the North Carolina State Wolfpack—he made stints at Hopkins (1972–1972), Bucknell (1973–1975), and Iona (1975–1980).
Anyone who has ever watched the NCAA Tournament is familiar with the two most iconic moments of his coaching career: Lorenzo Charles converting Dereck Whittenberg’s air-ball at the buzzer to defeat heavily favored Houston and win the 1983 NCAA Championship, and Valvano frantically searching for a hug on the court. The opening montage for every NCAA Tournament telecast features a lot of those pictures.
The teams led by Valvano won the ACC regular-season championship in 1985 and 1989, the ACC Tournament in 1983 and 1987, and advanced to the Elite Eight in 1985 and 1986 in addition to the 1983 championship. He received the ACC Coach of the Year award twice.
Unfortunately, controversy marked the end of his coaching career. In his book Personal Fouls, author Peter Golenbock questioned whether rules had been broken under Valvano’s supervision. Valvano was found not guilty after a thorough investigation, but some of his players were found to have sold sneakers and game tickets. NC State put itself on two years of probation before pressuring Valvano to step down.
He departed the Wolfpack after the 1989–1990 campaign, and like many other ex–coaches, he joined ESPN as a color analyst right afterwards. He was excellent in the position and received the Cable ACE Award for his performance on basketball broadcasts.
He received a fatal cancer diagnosis in June of 1992. Despite this, he returned to the air on ESPN in November.
The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was given to Valvano in March 1993 at the first-ever ESPY Awards. He mentioned the creation of the V Foundation in his victory speech. Valvano died less than two months later.
The V Foundation has raised more than $70 million for cancer research in the years following his passing. Jim Valvano had a $8 million net worth at the time of his passing in 1993.
- Position:
- Head Coach, Broadcaster
- Team:
- North Carolina State Wolfpack
- Career Record:
- 346-212
- Coaching Tree:
- Sidney Lowe (NC State), Dereck Whittenberg (Fordham), Vinny Del Negro (Los Angeles Clippers), Nate McMillan (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Great Players:
- Spud Webb, Tom Gugliotta, Dereck Whittenberg, Nate McMillan
- National Championships:
- Won 1983 National Championship with NC State
- Other Honors:
- Two-time ACC Coach of the Year. Cable ACE Award for Commentator/Analyst for NCAA Basketball broadcasts (1992), Arthur Ashe Award for Courage (ESPY Awards, 1993). Member of the Rutgers Basketball Hall of Fame and the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.
