Dick Vitale, ESPN Agree to Contract Extension Through 2022–23

Vitale: "I feel better than ever. In fact, people tell me you sound more enthusiastic than ever.”

One of college basketball's most popular voices will be back in the booth in 2021–22.

ESPN commentator Dick Vitale agreed to a contract extension with the network on Thursday. Vitale is now signed with ESPN through the 2022–23 season.

“I really want to keep going. I feel great,” Vitale told Front Office Sports's Michael McCarthy. "I’ve said this 5 million times: If the day ever comes I don’t recall names, I can’t recall information I need to share, I’ll be the first guy to pick up the phone and say the party’s over."

"But I feel better than ever. In fact, people tell me you sound more enthusiastic than ever.”

Dick Vitale has signed a new extension with ESPN@DickieV is set to call the first semifinal (Houston vs Baylor) & the championship game of the Men's #FinalFour for ESPN Internationalhttps://t.co/8T1ctPv6aO

via @FOS | @MMcCarthyREV pic.twitter.com/upTeAcjWi9

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 1, 2021

Vitale, 81, has been with ESPN since 1979. He has been a college basketball analyst for 44 years, also playing a key role in ESPN's V Foundation for cancer research. 

Vitale will call the national semifinal between Houston and Baylor on Saturday for ESPN International.