Beloved ESPN basketball commentator Dick Vitale will make his return to broadcasting on Jan. 25 for Duke vs. Wake Forest basketball, the network announced Friday.
Vitale, 85, has battled four types of cancer in the past three-and-a-half years, according to ESPN. The National Basketball Hall of Fame member announced he was cancer free on Jan. 8.
“I am absolutely ecstatic and I can’t believe this is happening after going through five major vocal cord surgeries, 65 radiation treatments and chemotherapy for six months,” Vitale said in the announcement. “It’s been a very tough journey, but all of the prayers and messages from the beautiful fans have inspired me. I can’t thank Jimmy Pitaro and all of my ESPN colleagues who I consider my second family enough for the love they showed me through such a tough time. I just hope that I can offer the people some basketball insights that can bring even more excitement to the game.”
Vitale’s last appeared on an ESPN broadcast on April 3, 2023, for San Diego State vs UConn in the national championship.
“Dickie V” has called over 1,000 games since joining ESPN for the 1979-80 season, also calling the network’s first major college basketball game. He has also played a major role in ESPN’s “V Foundation,” which was founded by the network and former NC State coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer.
Vitale made a name for himself in coaching before joining ESPN, as he served as an assistant at Rutgers from 1971-73 before becoming the head coach at mid-major Detroit Mercy from 1973-77, reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 1977. Vitale then became the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, a role he occupied from 1978-79 before taking a job at ESPN.
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