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Valvano: They Gave Me a Lifetime Contract and Then They Declared Me Dead
In a court-side chronicle of the North Carolina State Wolfpack's unforgettable 1983 drive to win the NCAA championship, coach Jim Valvano discusses the ins and outs of the college basketball scene
259 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 15, 2025
A really good read about the amazing coach Jim Valvano and how the University system and the NCAA screwed him out of a lifetime job. Coach Valvano explains amazingly how the NCAA listens to media and not the sources itself, and how the NC State administration also failed to believe in their coach and were absolute clowns on their executive decisions. Media portrays a lot of things, and unfortunately Coach Valvano was a victim of media and the clown executives fell for it.
March 1, 2018
This book is a Jim Valvano, otherwise known as Jimmy V, making light of some things that had happened in his coaching career. Often times Valvano does so in a humorous manner. Valvano begins the book by giving a brief summary of his playing days, detailing his hustle and work ethic. The author then begins writing about his early coaching career. Valvano talks about his struggles through that time and how he was able to keep on going. The bulk of the book is highlighted by Valvano's time as the head basketball coach at NC State. He goes into great detail about some of those games, giving you an insight as to what he was thinking at the time. Valvano also really likes to make fun of some of his decisions, bringing a light tone throughout most of the book. In the final portion of the book, Valvano talks about what the causes were of him not coaching at the time he was writing this book. During this portion, Valvano was not cracking jokes or downplaying a bad situation for the first time.
I really appreciated the way Coach Valvano carried a lighthearted spirit through most of the book. If you know anything about Jimmy V, you would know he was a very lighthearted and hilarious man throughout his life. I also really loved how Valvano clearly speaks about his struggles and how they made him a better person and coach. I also enjoyed how Valvano clearly stated what he was thinking throughout the book. There was nothing about Valvano's writing in this book I didn't enjoy.
In the book Coach Valvano says, “Every day, in every walk of life ordinary people, do extraordinary things.” I think that this fits his book very well because he often refers to himself as just another guy, who happened to be one of the biggest name coaches in the business for a few years. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys analyzing basketball and the life of coaches within. It is also great for those who love to laugh. I would definitely rate it 5 stars any day of the week.
I really appreciated the way Coach Valvano carried a lighthearted spirit through most of the book. If you know anything about Jimmy V, you would know he was a very lighthearted and hilarious man throughout his life. I also really loved how Valvano clearly speaks about his struggles and how they made him a better person and coach. I also enjoyed how Valvano clearly stated what he was thinking throughout the book. There was nothing about Valvano's writing in this book I didn't enjoy.
In the book Coach Valvano says, “Every day, in every walk of life ordinary people, do extraordinary things.” I think that this fits his book very well because he often refers to himself as just another guy, who happened to be one of the biggest name coaches in the business for a few years. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys analyzing basketball and the life of coaches within. It is also great for those who love to laugh. I would definitely rate it 5 stars any day of the week.
May 27, 2020
A few books about Valvano have made it to press over the past few decades, but this is the only one where Valvano tells the story himself. It's got his all of his trademark humor, but it can also be bittersweet to read, knowing what was coming just two years later in 1993.
The book is roughly divided into three equal parts. In the first third, he details his early life, from childhood until accepting the NC State job in 1980. In the second third, he goes through the highlights of his first nine seasons at NC State, with a special emphasis, of course, on 1983.
The third part, most fascinating of all, carefully chronicles the evil witch hunt from January of 1989 to April of 1990. I'd call it 'Javertesque,' but even Inspector Javert had an essential core of integrity and honesty. There are heroes, like Valvano, who live constructive lives, trying to build others up. And then there are nasty, miserable people, who spend their lives trying to tear others down.
Valvano is very cautious about ascribing motivations, and I wish he'd speculated a bit more than in this book. Why was the News and Observer out to get him, regardless of his innocence? Why were the likes of Spangler, Poole, and Monteith out to get him, regardless of his innocence? He never offers readers any suppositions. There's one tantalizing and curious bit where Valvano recounts getting a phone call from Ollie North. He says that North understood the full "truth" of what was going on, but Valvano does not elaborate.
The book is roughly divided into three equal parts. In the first third, he details his early life, from childhood until accepting the NC State job in 1980. In the second third, he goes through the highlights of his first nine seasons at NC State, with a special emphasis, of course, on 1983.
The third part, most fascinating of all, carefully chronicles the evil witch hunt from January of 1989 to April of 1990. I'd call it 'Javertesque,' but even Inspector Javert had an essential core of integrity and honesty. There are heroes, like Valvano, who live constructive lives, trying to build others up. And then there are nasty, miserable people, who spend their lives trying to tear others down.
Valvano is very cautious about ascribing motivations, and I wish he'd speculated a bit more than in this book. Why was the News and Observer out to get him, regardless of his innocence? Why were the likes of Spangler, Poole, and Monteith out to get him, regardless of his innocence? He never offers readers any suppositions. There's one tantalizing and curious bit where Valvano recounts getting a phone call from Ollie North. He says that North understood the full "truth" of what was going on, but Valvano does not elaborate.
August 8, 2022
Anyone who watches college sports, particularly basketball, knows who Jim Valvano was. This autobiography of a superb basketball coach and human being is well work the read. He coached the '83 NC State Wolfpack to one of the greatest upsets in all of college sports. This book came out before his fight with cancer and is geared more towards his early coaching years and time at NCSU. The media dictated his firing, along with one or two key academic personnel. The way the administration went about their business was despicable. There may be a reason why their basketball program is always mid to low rankings in the ACC - karmic justice.
June 17, 2025
Not my type of autobiography. Used every sentence as an opportunity to crack a joke which got old very quickly. The year where he talks about his championship team was good but that made up maybe 10% of this book.
June 20, 2010
This was a funny book by a man who loved and lived basketball. It was written before he became sick but he shares good insights into living a full life. It was clear he loved to laugh (one of my favorite qualities in people).
December 19, 2013
Great book which gave great insight into the coaching life of a great coach and even better human being. Chronicled the championship run of the NCSU 1983 team and also gave his side of the story of the controversy in the late 80s.
July 17, 2008
This is an extraordinary book that chronicles the lifetime & career of an even more brilliant person & coach!
September 6, 2008
I learned that basketball is a lot more complicated than 5 players going against 5 opponents. If you like college basketball, especially the ACC, read this!
January 26, 2025
Incredible story, life, career for Coach V. Imagine if he were here now coaching or in broadcasting! What a legend. Excellent book!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews