Bill Raftery
Basketball Analyst and Former College Basketball Coach

American Orange, New Jersey

Quick Info

Profession	Basketball Analyst and Former College Basketball Coach
Nationality	American
Date of Birth	19/04/1943
Age	83 years
Birthplace	Orange, New Jersey

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Bio/Wiki

Full Name	William Joseph Raftery
Overview	American basketball analyst and former college basketball coach known for his work as a broadcaster for CBS Sports, ESPN, and FOX. Raftery transitioned from a coaching career in the 1970s to become a critically acclaimed sports commentator.

Educational Qualification(s)

Undergraduate	Bachelor's degree in History from LaSalle University
Graduate	Master's degree in Education from Seton Hall University
Honorary	Honorary Doctorate from LaSalle University (2001)

Personal Life

Residence	Jupiter, Florida
Religion	Devout Catholic
Family Background	Parents emigrated from Ireland; sister was a nun

Relationships & More

Spouse	Wife (name not specified in sources)

Career

Playing Career

College	LaSalle University (1959-1963)
Notable Achievements	Set freshman scoring record with 370 points (1959-60); led varsity in scoring with 17.8 points per game (1960-61); co-captained team to National Invitational Tournament (1962-63)
Professional	Drafted by New York Knicks

Coaching Career

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Period	1963-1968
Record	63-47 (.527 winning percentage)
Additional Roles	Also coached golf; served as associate athletic director
Honors	Coach of the Year from New Jersey Basketball Writers Association (final season)

Seton Hall University

Period	1970-1981
Record	154-141 (.522 winning percentage)
Achievements	Led team to four ECAC postseason tournaments and two National Invitation Tournament appearances; presided over inaugural BIG EAST season
Honors	President of BIG EAST Coaches Association (1979-1981); Coach of the Year from New Jersey Sports Writers Association (1979)

Broadcasting Career

Start	1980 as co-host of ESPN's College Hoops Tonight
ESPN	Game analyst for college basketball (1982-2012)
CBS Sports	Analyst and color commentator for college basketball coverage (1983-present); covered NCAA Tournament annually since 1983; called first Final Four on television in 2015 at age 73
Radio	Analyst for Westwood One/CBS Radio NCAA Men's Final Four coverage (1991-2014, 23 years)
New Jersey Nets	Game analyst (1982-2002, over 20 years)
FOX Sports	Analyst for college basketball coverage
Other	On-course commentator for PGA Tour Champions Tour events; analyst for select NBA games with Brent Musburger and Dick Stockton

Business

President of W.J. Raftery Associates (events/marketing firm, since 1981)

Style Quotient

Broadcasting Style	Known for colorful catchphrases and excitable announcing

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Set Hudson County prep scoring record that stood until 1999
2. Named All-State in soccer, basketball, and baseball at St. Cecilia High School
3. Met legendary New York sportscaster Bob Wolff as a college senior, which laid groundwork for broadcasting career
4. Inducted into Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in December 2017
5. Three-time Sports Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Sports Personality/Sports Event Analyst (2015, 2016, 2018)
6. First-ever Honorary Inductee to LaSalle University Alumni Association's Hall of Athletes (2004)

Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error