Bill Raftery is in his 24th season as an analyst for CBS Sports' college
basketball coverage. Bill Raftery also serves as an analyst for CBS Radio/Westwood
One's coverage of the NCAA Men's Final Four. He also fills that same role for
college basketball on ESPN. Bill Raftery served as an analyst for the NBA's New
Jersey Nets. Since 1981, Bill Raftery has announced several events, including the Big
Ten Championship, the ACC Championship, the Big East Championship, the SEC
Championship, the McDonald's High School All-Star game and the NIT pre-season
and championship games.
Bill Raftery co-hosted THE BASKETBALL SHOW with Pat O'Brien and called NBA ON CBS
action. He served as course commentator for the First of America Senior PGA TOUR
event in Grand Rapids, Mich., as well as other Senior TOUR events. Bill Raftery was
the studio host for ESPN's coverage of the NCAA Tournament in 1980. Prior to his
broadcasting career Bill Raftery was head coach at Seton Hall University with 154-141
record from 1970-82 and prior to that he coached basketball and golf at
Fairleigh Dickinson for five years, while also serving as associate athletic
director. During his 16-year collegiate coaching career he gained three NIT and
four ECAC Tournament berths and was named Coach of the Year in 1979 by the New
Jersey Basketball Writers Association.
Bill Raftery played three seasons at LaSalle University under legendary coach
Donald "Dudey" Moore. He set a freshman scoring mark with 370 points. The next
year, he led the varsity team with 17.8 points per game and in his senior year,
he co-captained the Explorers to the National Invitational Tournament. Following
his senior year at LaSalle, he was drafted by the New York Knicks. A New Jersey
school-boy legend, prior to attending LaSalle, Bill Raftery was an All-State
selection in basketball, soccer and baseball at St. Cecilia High School in
Kearny, New Jersey.
He posted a New Jersey state record scoring 827 points in his senior year,
leading the team to the New Jersey State Championship. He ended his high school
career with 2,192 points, which at the time also was a state record. In 2004
Bill Raftery received a special Victor Sports Award, and the "Walter Payton
'Sweetness' Award," in recognition of his outstanding work in the community
throughout his lifetime. He also won a New York Sports Emmy for SINGLE EVENT
COVERAGE for Game 5 of the New Jersey Nets-Indiana Pacers series during the 2002
NBA Playoffs. Bill Raftery earned a degree in history from LaSalle and master's
degree in education from Seton Hall. Bill Raftery received an Honorary Doctorate from
LaSalle University in 2001.
He was born April 19 and currently serves as President of W.J.
Raftery
Associates, an events/marketing firm. Bill Raftery lives in Florham Park, N.J., with
his wife, Joan, and has four children and one grandchild.
