Valvano had big impact on Bulls coach

Years ago, before his tragic death from cancer at 47, Jim Valvano told the Durham (N.C.) Herald that Vinny Del Negro had the ideal college career.

"Vinny didn't always play that much, but he waited, gained maturity, gained strength, improved his game and then, when the opportunity came, he was ready for it," Valvano said. "I respect guys like that in a special way because of their ability to believe in themselves, their coaches, the program and winning.

"I think Vinny's career, to be perfectly honest with you, is the way a college career is supposed to be. If I had my druthers, they'd all be that way."

Valvano's memory is back in the spotlight this week as ESPN hosts "Jimmy V Week," which culminates today with two college games as part of the "Jimmy V Classic" at Madison Square Garden, plus a women's game in New Jersey.

Valvano died 15 years ago, on April 28, 1993, just a few months after being diagnosed with bone cancer.

Del Negro didn't play much as a freshman or sophomore at North Carolina State, then worked his way into the starting lineup and led the program's second Cinderella finish of the Valvano era, which lasted from 1980-90.

Heading into the ACC tournament with a 17-14 record, the Wolfpack knocked off Duke in overtime and Wake Forest in the semifinals, then upset a highly ranked North Carolina squad that featured Kenny Smith and J.R. Reid in the championship.

Del Negro was named tournament MVP and scored the winning points against North Carolina on 2 free throws with 14 seconds left.

"I always think of Coach Valvano," Del Negro said Friday at the Berto Center. "I think it's great what the V Foundation has done. He died way too young, but his legacy lives on through the money he's raising for cancer, and hopefully it will save other people's lives."

Valvano's public legacy is something of a mixed bag. A book published during Del Negro's college years made North Carolina State seem like a program out of control.

An NCAA investigation led to Valvano stepping down as athletic director, then coach, but the only violations uncovered were a few players selling shoes and game tickets.

"That book was way off base, but people are going to do malicious things for money and for attention and things," Del Negro said. "If you knew Coach V, there wouldn't even be a question with that stuff.

"Great guy. Smart, great coach, funny. He would recite poetry to the team, was an English major (at Rutgers). Very, very creative, especially with changing defenses. Tremendous speaker - the list goes on and on. So anybody that says that didn't know him very well."

Del Negro often credits Valvano for encouraging him to work harder when he was stuck behind players such as Nate McMillan and Spud Webb as an underclassman. His father, Vin, was another influence. The senior Del Negro played for Adolph Rupp at Kentucky in the 1950s but left the team before his eligibility was up.

"Sometimes you get frustrated, but if you put in the work, good things happen. I'm a firm believer in that," the first-year Bulls coach said. "I'd go to (Valvano's) office and he would be smoking cigars, playing darts and eating popcorn.

"We'd talk and I'd say, 'Coach, what do I need to do?' And he'd tell me, 'Go lift weights, go play in the summer league and get ahead academically.' I did it all, and when my opportunity was there, I took advantage of it."

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