Who is Dick Vitale? | The US Sun
Samuel Coleman
Published Sep 10, 2026
LEGENDARY basketball announcer Dick Vitale has been working with ESPN since 1979.
He was used to coaching basketball, and when first given a shot at ESPN, he didn't think he wanted to be on television.
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Who is Dick Vitale?
Vitale, 83, is an American sportscaster and the author of nine books.
He began as an assistant coach at Rutgers University before being named the head coach of the University of Detroit.
Following the 1977 season, his fourth as Detroit head coach, Vitale was named the university's athletic director.
Prior to landing his role on ESPN, he coached the Detroit Pistons of the NBA for the 1978–79 season.
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Vitale’s work in basketball led to his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
But it's his commentary of what's happening on the court that makes him truly memorable, and which earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award for Sports in 2019 at the 40th Annual Sports Emmy Awards.
Known as a color commentator, Vitale's job is to work with a play-by-play announcer to add some entertainment and value to the game.
Often, color commentators are known for their experience in the game, and specific insights they can give regarding plays, players, and anecdotes about what's happening.
In other words, Vitale became known best for his exciting additions to sportscasts, which otherwise could have been dry play-by-plays.
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Does Dick Vitale have cancer?
On October 18, 2021, Vitale announced he had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was set to undergo six months of chemotherapy.
Vitale told his fans that in August, he had several surgeries to get rid of melanoma, but had ultimately beaten it.
He clarified that doctors did not believe the lymphoma diagnosis was related to his melanoma.
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On August 17, 2022, Vitale took to Twitter to report that he is officially cancer-free, with a tweet reading: "Dr Rick Brown just notified me with my results of my major Pet Scan & told me news I wish EVERY cancer patient can hear . He said “Dick u have gone from being in remission to being CANCER FREE” ! Thank u to ALL of YOU that have sent me."
What is Dick Vitale's net worth?
Dick Vitale has a net worth of $20million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Much of his money goes to philanthropic efforts, especially the V Foundation, which was founded by his late friend Jim Valvano and ESPN with the goal of achieving "Victory Over Cancer."
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The Dick Vitale gala is held each year with a star-studded guest list, and the V Foundation has received nearly $44million from Vitale's event over the years.
The V Foundation website says: "The annual Gala, held at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, draws over 900 guests each year, including many cancer survivors and celebrities, all united to raise money for pediatric cancer research."
