Dick Vitale, iconic basketball broadcaster, diagnosed with cancer for fifth time

Dick Vitale is preparing for another battle with cancer.

Vitale, the legendary sports broadcaster and a former head coach at the then-University of Detroit and the Detroit Pistons, announced Monday he has been diagnosed with cancer for a fifth time. He said he's "four-for-four" in beating cancer, and he's ready to make it "five-for-five."

"The best news I can share today is this," Vitale said in a statement from ESPN. "I feel fantastic."

Vitale, 86, was diagnosed Monday with melanoma in a lung and the liver, and he said he plans to undergo treatment immediately.

Previously, Vitale was diagnosed and beat melanoma, lymphoma, vocal cord cancer and lymph node cancer.

Vitale, long one of ESPN's top college basketball game analysts, has worked a lighter schedule in recent years, as he's battled several cancer diagnoses. He first was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, and battled several diagnoses through late 2024.

After an extended leave of more than a year-and-a-half, he returned to the air in February 2025 to broadcast a Duke-Clemson game. This March, he worked an NCAA Tournament First Four game, alongside Charles Barkley, with ESPN loaning the broadcast legend to Turner Sports for the night.

Vitale joined a fledgling ESPN in 1979, following four seasons as head coach of Detroit (leading the school to the Sweet 16 in 1978), and one-plus seasons as head coach of the Pistons.

Detroit Mercy's Calihan Hall now features Dick Vitale Court. He was 79-29 as head coach of Detroit.

Outside of his broadcasting career — he's called more than 1,000 games, building a popular "Dickie V." brand with catchphrases like, "Awesome, baby!" — Vitale has been a passionate and tireless fundraiser for pediatric cancer research. His foundation has raised more than $100 million. That work will continue, he said Monday.

"I've lived a hell of a life, and I'm more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer," said Vitale, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"No child should ever have to go through what I've experienced. I am grateful beyond words for all the support I've received, and I'm already looking forward to this year's annual gale on May 1. I really feel we will raise $12 million to add to the $105 million we've already raised."

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Dick Vitale, iconic broadcaster, diagnosed with cancer for fifth time