June 8, 2001
University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith will join other top college basketball coaches from around the country when the American Cancer Society, the nation’s leading voluntary health organization, brings the coaches together June 10-11 for the second annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Invitational at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mill, Md. The tournament could be called the Final FORE! as the field of players is one of the largest gathering of college coaches outside the March tournament.
The tournament participants include coaches who typically find themselves standing across the court from one another, such as: Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Jim Calhoun (Connecticut), Jerry Dunn (Penn State), Jim Harrick (Georgia), Nolan Richardson (Arkansas), Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma), Gary Williams (Maryland), Roy Williams (Maryland), Tubby Smith (Kentucky), Fran Dunphy (Pennsylvania), Craig Esherick (Georgetown), Steve Lappas (Massachussetts/Springfield), Steve Lavin (UCLA), and Pat Kennedy (DePaul). Other tournament participants include former NCAA basketball coaches Norm Stewart, Dean Smith and Bobby Cremins, and Baltimore Ravens owner, Steve Biscotti.
All proceeds from the event go directly toward the Society’s research, advocacy and patient service programs in each coach’s local community. “It is really a wonderful event,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. ” The course is beautiful and it is a great feeling to know you are making a difference in the fight against cancer. To be with other coaches in a fun, social environment is always a good time.”
But it is not always fun and games on the course. “There is still the closest to the pin and the longest drive competitions,” UCONN coach Jim Calhoun said. “We are competitors. We all want to win those.”
The Coaches vs. Cancer program was created in 1993 by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. In 1999 the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association joined the program. Coaches vs. Cancer leverages the celebrity of our nation’s coaches to raise awareness of key cancer issues and raise money for the American cancer Society’s mission. The program has raised over $13.5 million to benefit the American Cancer Society with events including the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge, Midnight Practice Events, coach’s clinics and local game activities. Last year the Golf Invitational raised nearly $100,000, with an increase of 50% anticipated from this year’s event.
“We are very proud to work with so many of the nation’s top basketball coaches who join us in our fight against cancer. Because of their time, their energy, and their spirit they ultimately help save lives by participating in the Golf Invitational at Caves Valley,” said H. Fred Mickelson, Chair-Elect of the National Board of the American cancer Society.
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service. For information about cancer, call toll-free anytime 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the American Cancer Society web site at www.cancer.org.
