Jim Larrañaga: Remembering Jim Valvano

V Foundation for Cancer Research founder Jim Valvano was known for being a larger-than-life personality. In addition to being an incredible coach who led the NC State Wolfpack to the 1983 NCAA National Championship, he filled every room he was in with laughter.

For University of Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga, although he coached against Jim in some great games while an assistant coach at Virginia in the early 1980s, one of the most memorable interactions with Jim came in his own home nearly a decade later.

As coach at Bowling Green in the late 1980s-early 1990s, Coach Larrañaga learned that Jim was in town for a speaking engagement. He welcomed Jim into his home, and a night of unforgettable memories commenced.

“I invited him to the house, gave him a glass of wine and a cigar, and he told stories until four o’clock in the morning to me, my wife and my two sons,” Coach Larrañaga said. “I loved it. He was so entertaining. His energy and enthusiasm was absolutely fantastic.”

Jim Valvano loved people, which is ultimately why he worked with ESPN to found the V Foundation for Cancer Research. While he was in the midst of his own cancer battle, Jim knew the path to Victory Over Cancer® was only through game-changing research. So, he announced the founding of the V Foundation in an iconic speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards Show.

Since that day, the V Foundation has awarded nearly $400 million in game-changing cancer research to all-star scientists to accelerate Victory Over Cancer® and save lives. Today, there are more than 18.1 million cancer survivors in the U.S., and that number is expected to continue to grow to 26 million by 2040.

This is only possible through research. Jim knew the research that would be funded in his name would not save his life but could save the lives of others.