Two of ESPN’s standout college basketball analysts have signed new contracts this week. ESPN on-air original Dick Vitale has signed a new agreement to remain with the network through the 2016=17 season. It means that Vitale will continue to work marquee games and the NCAA Final Four for ESPN International which is seen globally except for the United States.
Vitale joined ESPN just months after the network came to being in 1979 and called the first college basketball game on the network, a Wisconsin-DePaul contest. Joe Boyle was the first of his many on-air partners.
Having completed his 35th season on the air with ESPN last April, Vitale will ensure that he will work through his 38th when this contract ends.
Among Vitale’s on-air partners: Bob Ley, John Saunders, Jim Simpson, Jim Thacker, Roger Twibell, Dave O’Brien, Brad Nessler, Mike Patrick, Keith Jackson, Brent Musburger, Dan Shulman, Tim Brando and so many others.
Here’s the ESPN announcement:
ESPN Extends Dick Vitale’s Contract Through 2016-17
Hall of Famer Dick Vitale, one of sport’s most influential and recognizable personalities, has reached a new contract extension with ESPN to continue as a college basketball analyst with the company through 2016-17. Vitale will call some of the season’s top games across ESPN networks, including regular-season action primarily on ESPN and ESPN2 and the Men’s Final Four for ESPN International. The agreement was announced by John Wildhack, ESPN Executive Vice President, Production and Programming.
“Dick is the ultimate ambassador who has always recognized the importance of both educating and entertaining the audience,” Wildhack said. “He puts his heart and soul into everything he does – his work, his life, his family – and we are all better for it. We are thrilled to have his unmistakable presence on ESPN for years to come.”
Vitale added, “I am just so honored to be at ESPN for over three decades. I am absolutely thrilled, at my relatively young age of 75, ESPN feels I am still passionate enough to talk about a game I love, college basketball. I am just so grateful to be part of the ESPN family. Without ESPN, there would no Dickie V; there would be no Hall of Fames. I am forever indebted to them.”
Vitale joined ESPN during the 1979-80 season — just after the network’s September 1979 launch — following a successful coaching career. He called ESPN’s first-ever major NCAA basketball game – Wisconsin at DePaul on Dec. 5, 1979 (a 90-77 DePaul win). Since then, he’s called more than a thousand games.
Over the years, Vitale has been widely recognized for his work and his positive impact on others. Just recently, he was honored by the American Cancer Society for his dedication to cancer awareness; by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) with a Court of Honor Award; as well as by Seton Hall University with the Humanitarian Award.
Beyond the numerous awards he’s received for his work, including the sport’s highest honor in 2008 (Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in the contributor category), Vitale has been celebrated for his many charitable contributions. He’s been an outspoken and passionate fundraiser and board member for The V Foundation for Cancer Research and has also worked closely with the Boys & Girls Club and Make-A-Wish, among other organizations.
While his knowledge, preparation and enthusiasm are unparalleled, his “Vitale-isms” have become part of the sports lexicon, including “Awesome, Baby!,” “Get a TO, Baby!” and “PTP’er.” Vitale, who has authored nine books, has been selected for nine halls of fame. In addition to TV, he contributes to numerous other ESPN outlets, including ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and more.
Vitale’s roots are in teaching the game he’s loved since childhood. Following college, he got a job teaching at Mark Twain Elementary School (Garfield, N.J.) and coaching junior high school football and basketball. He began coaching for eight years at the high school level in 1963, and in 1970, moved on to his first of seven years of college jobs with Rutgers and later University of Detroit. In May 1978, he was named head coach of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, the job he held prior to joining ESPN.
And ESPN has announced that Jay Bilas has been signed, but his contract extends to the 2022-23 season. Bilas has been with ESPN since the 1994-95 season and this extension will ensure that he’ll remain with the Alleged Worldwide Leader into his third decade.
This contract will give Bilas the opportunity to be assigned to top games as well as Saturday primetime games. Bilas has been on the college basketball version of College GameDay and he’ll continue his duties with that show.
Here’s the announcement on Bilas.
Jay Bilas Signs Extension with ESPN Through 2023
Will Add Saturday Primetime Telecast With College GameDay Duties
Jay Bilas, known for an extensive knowledge of men’s basketball and his insightful analysis about the entire sports industry, has agreed to an extension with ESPN through the 2022-23 men’s college basketball season, it was announced by John Wildhack, ESPN Executive Vice President, Production and Programming.
Bilas, who is featured on ESPN’s game and studio coverage, will call top men’s college basketball games involving the nation’s marquee teams and conferences and will be present at the Men’s Final Four through studio coverage, as well as game telecasts on ESPN International. Saturday’s will be busy for Bilas as he will add ESPN’s Saturday Primetime game-of-the-week assignment to his analyst role on the popular Saturday morning and evening college basketball program, College GameDay. He has been an analyst on the show that originates from the site of the Saturday Primetime telecast since its debut in 2005.
Bilas will contribute to several ESPN platforms, including ESPN.com and SportsCenter. His extension will keep him on ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Draft, where he has been providing in-depth player scouting and analysis since 2003.
“Jay Bilas is a tremendous contributor to ESPN in so many ways, and we are delighted to extend our relationship with him,” said Wildhack. “He is among a small group of commentators who transcend genres based on his ability to inform and educate sports fans, break down game action and articulate how and why things happen in college basketball and the sports world at large.”
Added Bilas: “For over twenty years, I have been honored to be a member of ESPN’s amazing team and, like all of my teammates here at ESPN, I’ve always fully embraced the role I have been assigned. I’m thrilled to continue my career with ESPN, and to work together with so many talented and dedicated people. I’m extraordinarily fortunate to be a part of this team.”
Bilas joined ESPN in the 1994-95 college basketball season as a game and studio color commentator.
In 2007 and 2008, Bilas was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Studio Personality, and in 2008 Bilas was honored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) for the Best Column of the Year. Sports Illustrated has twice named Bilas the best analyst in college basketball.
A prep All-American from Los Angeles, Calif., the 6-7 Bilas was a four-year starter at Duke under Mike Krzyzewski from 1982-86. As an undersized center, Bilas scored 1,062 points, grabbed 692 rebounds, and helped lead Duke to the 1986 ACC Championship and NCAA Championship game. Bilas’ 1986 Duke team still holds the NCAA record for the most wins in a single season with 37.
Drafted by the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Bilas played professional basketball overseas, ranking among the leagues’ top scorers in Italy during the 1987 and 1988 seasons, and then in Spain for part of the 1989 season. Bilas returned to Duke in 1990 to serve as an assistant coach on Krzyzewski’s staff, while also earning his law degree from Duke Law School. As an assistant coach under Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Championship game three times, winning back-to-back titles in 1991 and 1992.
Since 1992, Bilas has been an attorney with the law firm of Moore & Van Allen, PLLC, where he has specialized in commercial litigation. Bilas serves on the Board of Advisors of the John R. Wooden Award, the Board of Advisors of the Chip Hilton Award, the National Board of the Coaches vs. Cancer Organization and the Board of Advisors of the Duke Brain Tumor Center and Duke Childrens’ Hospital.
Bilas has participated as a coach in two “Operation Hardwood – Hoops With the Troops” basketball tournaments in 2005 and 2006, in which NCAA coaches and sports personalities coach military basketball teams at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
And to finish off this super-sized post, ESPN has announced it has hired former UConn men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun as an analyst.
Hall of Fame Coach Jim Calhoun Joins ESPN
Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Coach Jim Calhoun, who led the University of Connecticut to three NCAA National Championships (1999, 2004, 2011), has joined ESPN as a men’s college basketball analyst. Calhoun will provide expert insight and analysis across ESPN, including studio programming, joining select game telecasts and conducting sit-down interviews with top figures in the game.
Calhoun, along will new college basketball analyst Shane Battier, will first appear on the network from the State Farm Champions Classic – the early-season, neutral-site men’s doubleheader to be played Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The culminating event of the College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon showcases preseason-ranked No. 18 Michigan State vs. No. 2 Duke at 7 p.m., followed by No. 10 Kansas vs. No. 1 Kentucky at 9 p.m., with a special one-hour edition of College GameDay Covered by State Farm at 6 p.m.
“Jim’s experience coaching – and winning – in the sport’s biggest games, and as a teacher of several of its best players gives him an invaluable insight as an analyst,” said Mark Gross, senior vice president production & remote events. “That knowledge and ability to see the game as it develops provides our coverage with a perspective that will serve fans through any storyline the season brings.”
“I love the game of basketball and am excited for this chance to share my passion with ESPN viewers,” said Calhoun. “Being an NCAA coach has not only provided me with a unique perspective on the game, but also the opportunity to meet some interesting and inspiring people, and I look forward to having the chance to share their stories.”
Calhoun spent 26 years as head coach of the University of Connecticut men’s basketball program and a total of 40 as a collegiate head coach from 1972-2012 (14 years at Northeastern). His coaching success story includes three NCAA National Championships (1999, 2004, 2011) at Connecticut, and four appearances in the Final Four. Calhoun’s overall record as a head coach is 873-380, one of only eight Division I coaches in NCAA history to earn their way into the 800-win club. During his 26 history-making years as head coach at Connecticut, he compiled an overall record of 625-243.
He earned basketball’s highest honor while still an active coach, election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2005. He was also inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of its founding class in 2006. In April of 2005, Calhoun became just the seventh recipient of the prestigious John R. Wooden “Legends of Coaching Award” presented by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Calhoun has had great success producing top flight collegiate stars who have also excelled on the professional level. Twenty-six of Calhoun’s Connecticut players have competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Calhoun and his wife Pat are known for their philanthropic efforts. The annual Calhoun Classic Weekend features a Celebrity Charity Basketball All-Star Game and Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament with proceeds benefiting the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center at UConn. The Calhoun Classic has raised millions in support of the Cardiology Center endowment fund. Calhoun also hosts the Jim Calhoun Cancer Challenge Ride and Walk to benefit the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the UConn Health Center, and is an outspoken advocate for the group Autism Speaks.
And that will do it.
