Dick Vitale

Richard J. "Dick" Vitale (June 9, 1939, in Passaic, New Jersey) is a basketball broadcaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known for his spirited style on ESPN and its family of cable television channels.

After his graduation from Seton Hall, he planned on being a teacher. Vitale took his first job as a coach at an elementary school in Garfield, New Jersey in 1963. Eventually, he moved up to the high school level to become head coach at Garfield High School for one season, and at East Rutherford High School (his alma mater) for seven, where his teams won two state championships.

In 1970 Vitale moved to Rutgers University, as an assistant coach under head coach Raymond Jones. After two season he was hired by the U. of Detroit to become its head coach in 1972. Vitale took Detroit to the 32-team NCAA tournament in 1977. Vitale had a 78-30 record during his tenure at Detroit, which included a 21-game winning streak during the 1977 season. During that streak, the Titans defeated Marquette, who would go on to win the 1977 NCAA title, on the road in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Following the 1977 season, his fifth as Detroit head coach, Vitale was named the university's athletic director.