The biggest name in college basketball broadcasting is sticking to the airwaves for a few more years. Legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale signed a contract extension with ESPN through the 2027-28 season, the network announced Monday.
The announcement comes on the same day ESPN announced a college basketball event in Vitale’s name. The Dick Vitale Invitational will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Nov. 4. The inaugural game will feature Texas and Duke.
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The new deal will see Vitale, who has been with the network since 1979, reach nearly 50 years with ESPN. In a statement, he thanked the company for supporting him over the years.
“ESPN has been such a vital part of my life since December 5, 1979, and I was so thrilled to learn that ESPN Events will have an annual Dick Vitale Invitational,” said Vitale. “Jimmy Pitaro and all my colleagues and friends at ESPN have been so good to me and I am so thankful for all of the prayers and love I have received from them during my cancer battles. ESPN has been family to me and has given me a life that has been even better than my dreams. To the Vitale family, ESPN is ‘Awesome, baby’ with a capital A!”
Over his career, Vitale, 86, developed a reputation as an energetic and boisterous broadcaster who has coined a number of catchphrases.
In 2021, Vitale announced he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He missed most of the season while dealing with the disease. Vitale announced he was cancer-free in 2022. After dealing with vocal-chord issues, Vitale announced in 2023 he was dealing with vocal-chord cancer.
He announced he was cancer-free in January, and ready to return to ESPN. He was able to call games near the end of the college-basketball season, and said he was hoping to return next season.
