When you talk about NC State men’s basketball, the first name that comes to mind for the 2024 season is DJ Burns Jr. The big man for the Wolfpack with handles like Hakeem Olajuwon and a physique like Zach Randolph has captured the hearts of America while leading NC State to the Final Four.
But if you were to bring up Wolfpack basketball to anyone who has been consuming college hoops for more than a month, one person immediately comes to mind: Jim Valvano.
The legendary college basketball coach, nicknamed Jimmy V, is a staple in Wolfpack history. He was at the helm of the program from 1980-1990, during which NC State won its second national championship in school history.
NC State has not brought a banner back to Raleigh since Valvano’s team did so in 1983. But Kevin Keatts’ crew has a chance at winning a national title in 2024.
Here is what you need to know about Valvano and his coaching career at NC State as the Wolfpack prepare to face off against Purdue in the 2024 Final Four at 6 p.m. ET Saturday.
MORE: How DJ Burns’ March Madness run compares to Shaq
Jim Valvano 1983 championship
Before 2024, the last time NC State played in the men’s Final Four came more than 40 years ago, in 1983.
The Wolfpack entered that year’s edition of March Madness fresh off winning the ACC Tournament.
NC State finished the 1982-83 regular season with a record of 26-10, including an 8-6 mark in conference play, then ran the table during the conference tournament. The team knocked off Wake Forest, North Carolina and Virginia, which beat NC State twice in the regular season, to claim the program’s second ACC title.
The Wolfpack earned the No. 6 seed in the West region, matching up against No. 11 seed Pepperdine. The first round contest was one for the ages, as two overtimes were needed before Valvano & Co. emerged with a 69-67 win. The regional quarterfinals brought another close matchup, this time against No. 3 seed UNLV, but NC State managed to secure a 71-70 win.
In the regional semifinals, NC State made easy work of No. 10 seed Utah, handing the Utes a 75-56 defeat. The win set up a rematch of the ACC title game in the Elite Eight, as the Wolfpack and Cavaliers squared off again. The result was the same, as NC State punched its ticket to the Final Four with a hard-fought 63-62 win.
NC State defeated Georgia in the national semifinals to reach the 1983 championship game, where the team faced the daunting task of going against Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler on a talented Houston team.
MORE: History of NC State’s men’s Final Four appearances
The 1983 championship is known for the way it finished. The Wolfpack had the ball with 44 seconds left and the game tied at 52. At the time, there was no shot clock in the NCAA, so NC State could run out the remaining seconds.
Valvano’s team passed the rock around, watching the clock tick down to single digits. Houston’s relentless pressure kept the ball on the perimeter, and NC State could not get a good look for the game-winning basket.
With five seconds left, Wolfpack guard Dereck Whittenburg sent a long-range heave toward the basket. The attempt fell well short of the hoop, but NC State center Lorenzo Charles took advantage of Olajuwon’s relaxed defense on the play, leaping up to grab the ball out of midair and slam it home for the game-winning dunk right before the buzzer sounded.
The play itself is one of the most iconic sequences in March Madness history, and the win for NC State is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in NCAA national championship history.
Jim Valvano coaching record
NC State was the final stop for Valvano in his NCAA coaching career. He previously was the head boss at Johns Hopkins, Bucknell and Iona before he found his greatest success with the Wolfpack.
Here is a complete look at Valvano’s coaching record in the NCAA.
Johns Hopkins
| Season | Record | NCAA Tournament Result |
| 1969-70 | 10-9 | Missed tournament |
Bucknell
| Season | Record | NCAA Tournament Result |
| 1972-73 | 11-14 | Missed tournament |
| 1973-74 | 8-16 | Missed tournament |
| 1974-75 | 14-12 | Missed tournament |
Iona
| Season | Record | NCAA Tournament Result |
| 1975-76 | 11-15 | Missed tournament |
| 1976-77 | 15-10 | Missed tournament |
| 1977-78 | 17-10 | Missed tournament |
| 1978-79 | 23-6 | Lost in First Round |
| 1979-80 | 28-4 | Lost in Second Round |
NC State
| Season | Record | NCAA Tournament Result |
| 1980-81 | 14-13 | Missed tournament |
| 1981-82 | 22-10 | Lost in First Round |
| 1982-83 | 26-10 | Won National Championship |
| 1983-84 | 19-14 | Missed tournament |
| 1984-85 | 23-10 | Lost in Elite Eight |
| 1985-86 | 21-13 | Lost in Elite Eight |
| 1986-87 | 20-13 | Lost in First Round |
| 1987-88 | 24-6 | Lost in First Round |
| 1988-89 | 22-9 | Lost in Sweet 16 |
| 1989-90 | 18-12 | Missed tournament |
