ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale was honored as the East Rutherford Civic Pride Association’s “Man of the Year” on Thursday.
Vitale was born in East Rutherford in June 1939. From 1964-71, Vitale led his alma mater East Rutherford High to two state titles as its boys basketball coach, including back-to-back titles in 1970-71. The school’s basketball court is named after Vitale.
The ceremony included a presentation of a $10,000 check to The V Foundation for Cancer Research in honor of the late John Saunders, the ESPN commentator who died in August 2016.