From 1972-1991, he was the successful men's head basketball coach at Notre Dame for 20 years. Since 1993, he's made the transition as one of ESPN's many NCAA Basketball analysts.
In recent years, he has served mainly as one of the co-hosts of the basketball version of "College GameDay" alongside fellow analyst Jay Bilas, onetime former Bull Jalen Rose & host Rece Davis. Much like its football counterpart during the fall, "College GameDay" originates from various college basketball arenas. This past season, "GameDay" originated from venues such as Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse, Notre Dame's renamed Purcell Pavilion (the Joyce Center), Allen Fieldhouse on the Kansas campus & North Carolina's Dean Smith Center Saturday mornings prior to the network's featured primetime game later that night.
Yesterday, ESPN announced that Richard "Digger" Phelps, 71, has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Phelps has undergone surgery and will start follow-up treatment next week near his home in South Bend, IN.
In a statement, Phelps said that "he and his family appreciate your thoughts and prayers as he prepares for the 2013-2014 college basketball season."
During his 20 seasons as the Fighting Irish head coach prior to joining ESPN in 1993, Phelps compiled a record of 393-197.
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