Coach Vitale has become one of the most popular figures in college basketball. Vitale is nationally known for his colorful, enthusiastic, sometimes controversial - but never boring, perspective of college basketball.

Coach Vitale started his coaching career on the high school level, earning five sectional and two consecutive state titles and 35 consecutive victories during his seven years at East Rutherford, New Jersey High School (1964-72). He then joined Rutgers University for two years as an assistant coach. In April of 1973, Coach V was named head coach at the University of Detroit, where in four years he compiled an impressive .722 winning percentage (78-30). This included a 21-game winning streak (25-4 overall) during the 1976-77 season in which the team participated in the NCAA Tournament. In May of 1978, Vitale became head coach of the Detroit Pistons of the NBA.

Coach Vitale began his broadcasting career during the 1979-80 basketball season with ESPN. He is also an analyst for ABC TV/Radio, a post he has held since 1988. Vitale has published a book entitled "Vitale" in 1988 and has earned national recognition for his "Say No to Drugs" campaign.