Family, Friends Keeping Valvano's Spirit Close

APEX, N.C. - The words of a eulogy and a photograph of a smiling Jim Valvano comforted family and friends at a funeral today for the colorful coach.

"We know that Jim will remain as close to us in death as he was close to us in life," said Father William Schmidt. "All of us here today will miss Jim very much."

Among those in the church was a Who's Who of college basketball coaches, including North Carolina's Dean Smith, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, Pat Kennedy of Florida State, Rollie Massimino of UNLV and Ohio State's Randy Ayers.

"It's our last day to say goodbye to a great friend, a great friend of the basketball world and a great friend to so many people," Kennedy said. "Guys have traveled from all over the country to get here. It's hard to believe he's not going to be with us."

Valvano's broadcasting buddies were there, too - Dick Vitale, Billy Packer and Tim Brando.

Several of his former players at North Carolina State were at the service, including Dereck Whittenburg and Mike Warren, who played on Valvano's national championship team in 1983.

Valvano died Wednesday at 47.

At a wake yesterday, former N.C. State football coach Tom Reed said his first meeting with Valvano left him a little skeptical, but he came to like the coach.

Reed said he now has a keen appreciation for Valvano and what his message meant.

"I wish I could have had this kind of knowledge previously, and I would have understood exactly who he was much, much better," Reed said. "He was a visionary, too."