Jim Valvano Biography

I love sports. The way it brings out the toughness, love and competition in each athlete. As a basketball player and fanatic I see firsthand the daily grind and dedication it takes to be great; however, sports aren’t just about the outcomes; the processes, the people you get to surround yourself with and the coach you have makes it all the worth wild. In 1983, the North Carolina Wolfpack basketball team, showed the world what true dedication and love looked like to not only themselves, but one of the best coaches of all-time, Jim Valvano. In the film Survive and Advance tells a story of how a team won nine straight do-or-die games and shows through pathos, ethos and logos what true grit and love is for this basketball team, allowing us to

After, having a great first season Coach Slone decided to leave to go to Florida. The team struggling to find its way and build a new culture a man by the name of Jim Valvano came in to take the job offer. Now, Jim wasn’t an ordinary coach, he came in with enthusiasm, craziness and a will to drive others not only to win, but become a better person. Entering as a new coach into the ACC, the top basketball conference in the country, left many people unsure of what he could do for this team, facing greats like Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, James Worthy and Hall of Fame coach, Dean Smith. His first year they were barely over .500 and the second year making the NCAA tournament and losing first round proved the doubters correct. It wasn’t till his third season, Lowe, Wittenberg and Charles senior season when Jim Valvano never lost a confidence in the path and the ultimate goal he had for this team, a national

Survive and Advance of course told us a story of a fairy tale team, but it was more than basketball it was a life story. Jimmy V said, "Ordinary people do Extraordinary things" and he did that in these players lives, giving them hope and a sense of a reason to live and work each day for what they wanted. As this 1983 North Carolina State team discussed their year of craziness, they talked more about the man their coach was and his positive lifestyle he put into theirs. This team trusted him and never lost that, that’s why they were so successful. Jim Valvano impacted the basketball community in a way that is indescribable, a way that wanted you to go out of your way just to hear him talk because of his laugh and smile. Jim was diagnosed with cancer in 1992 that hurt the world. Each year there is an award night from ESPN and Jim had received the "Jimmy V Award for Perseverance". This night was 2 months before he knew he was going to pass away, and he went to the award show to give a speech that won’t be forgotten. As he limped his way slowly up that stage you could see the pain he was in, but this man didn’t let anything affect his positive spirit. In his speech he said, "There are three things you need to do every day; laugh, think and have emotions that move you to tears" and finished his speech with "and never stop