National Events

Local Events

Basketball coaches nationwide participate in a variety of local and national events to raise funds and awareness for Coaches vs. Cancer. You can make a difference by learning more about the following activities and events.

National Coaches vs. Cancer Events

2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer (November)

The Classic is the nation's premier, preseason college basketball tournament that offers spectators and fans some of the most exciting college basketball in the country and the chance to help the American Cancer Society make a difference in the fight against cancer. This tournament features 16 teams from 16 conferences that compete at four regional sites during the second week in November each year. The four victorious teams advance to the championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Maryland Terrapins were the 2006 Classic champs, beating the Texas Longhorns in the final game. The 2007 champs were the Memphis Tigers defeating the University of Connecticut Huskies. The championship games were nationally televised on ESPN and ESPN2. The next Classic will be held on November 19-20, 2008.

Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend (February)

Suits and Sneakers, a national event designed to raise awareness about Coaches vs. Cancer and the importance of cancer prevention and early detection was held February 1-3. Coaches and coaching staff nationwide wore sneakers with their suits while coaching games during this weekend to remind college basketball audiences about the many ways people can reduce their risk of cancer, like eating right, exercising, making healthy lifestyle choices, and following the American Cancer Society's recommended cancer screening guidelines. The event was promoted by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society, generating coverage on televised games and in arenas across the country. Next year's Suits and Sneakers events will be held from January 30-February 1, 2009.

For more information about Suits and Sneakers, contact Patrice Bowles, national Coaches vs. Cancer program manager, at 404-329-7630.

Fight Cancer in Style! (April)

This unique brunch and boutique shopping event for college basketball coaches' wives took place on April 5, during the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas. In its second year, the brunch raised awareness and funds for Coaches vs. Cancer. Attendees enjoyed a fabulous meal and the opportunity to browse and purchase jewelry, handbags, accessories, and more from specialty boutiques, allowing them to fight cancer—in style!

For more information about Fight Cancer in Style!, contact Patrice Bowles, national Coaches vs. Cancer program manager, at 404-329-7630.

Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Invitational (June)

Inverness Club is devoted to honoring the tradition, the integrity and the skill of the game and has hosted eight major championships since 1920. Inverness has a distinguished history, as storied at the legendary players and historic games that have graced its revered grounds.

For more information regarding the Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Invitational, contact Patrice Bowles, national Coaches vs. Cancer program manager, at 404-329-7630.

Referees vs. Cancer

As an expansion of the Coaches vs. Cancer program, referees are asked to donate a portion of their game fee to the American Cancer Society. This initiative starts during Suits and Sneakers weekend and concludes with an announcement of the monies raised during the National Association of Basketball Coaches' presentation at the Final Four. For more information about Referees vs. Cancer, contact Jim Satalin, national program director, 315-433-5620.

Local Coaches vs. Cancer Events

Tom & Lupe Izzo and Coaches vs. Cancer

Michigan State University Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Izzo, and wife Lupe, have joined Coaches vs. Cancer, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

To help them put a game plan together off the court in the fight against cancer, Tom and Lupe have formed a volunteer driven committee and an initial field of donors who make up a strong starting lineup, which includes influential community leaders and businesses from around the state.

For more information or to find out how to participate, contact Kate Follett at 517.664.1370.

BasketBall Gala

The BasketBall is a black-tie gala hosted by coaches in their communities that offers an exciting evening of dancing, dinner, celebrity appearances, and a unique silent auction. Syracuse University Head Coach Jim Boeheim and wife Juli created this event in 2000, and each year the event is bigger and better than the last. Other coaches and their wives who host successful BasketBall galas include: Mike and Tish Brey (University of Notre Dame), Mark and Marci Few (Gonzaga University), Geno and Kathy Auriemma (University of Connecticut), Fran and Ree Dunphy (Temple University), and Phil and Judy Martelli (St. Joseph’s University). Coaches and their wives are encouraged to contact their local American Cancer Society office to learn more about starting a BasketBall gala in their community.

Gonzaga University Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall named best event of the year in Spokane, Washington!

Tip-off Breakfast

Coach Gary Williams at the University of Maryland and Coach Roy Williams at the University of North Carolina host a tip-off breakfast at their respective schools each fall to discuss the upcoming basketball season and to raise money for the American Cancer Society. This unique event for basketball fans offers an opportunity to hear firsthand from the coaches on predictions for the season. Other coaches from around the country hold these events, bringing fans closer to the game and the fight against cancer.

Local Golf Tournaments

Many coaches across the country host annual golf tournaments to benefit the American Cancer Society. These events offer a day of competition and camaraderie for an important cause, while mixing two favorite activities for many fans—basketball and golf. Local golf tournaments also provide many individuals with a chance of a lifetime—to play with their favorite coaches. Many notables such as the Philadelphia six coaches, Ed DeChellis of Penn State, and Coach Mike Brey of Notre Dame take the competition off the court to the course each year.

Coaches vs. Cancer Nights

Several schools pick one game during the season to designate as “Coaches vs. Cancer Night,” where the coach will appeal to the fans and community to join his team in the fight against cancer by adding an additional admission charge, asking for a donation at the door, seeking pledges, initiating shoot-out contests, etc. The event is often sponsored by a local business, promoted on the coach's show, and publicized by local media outlets.

High School Basketball Tournaments

Many high school coaches get involved with Coaches vs. Cancer by hosting a Coaches vs. Cancer tournament at their school or simply renaming an existing tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society. The host coach will invite other schools to participate in an event that may be held during the season, or planned as a holiday tournament. Coach Rich Basirico, head coach at Hilton Head Preparatory, renamed an existing event that has created overwhelming visibility for the American Cancer Society in the two days of competition. Elmira High School in Elmira, New York hosts a three-day holiday tournament that features a tobacco education clinic.

Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall Gala Named Best Community Event in Spokane, Washington by Pacific Northwest Inlander Newspaper

The Great West Division Coaches vs. Cancer® BasketBall gala in Spokane, Washington was named the best community event in the Pacific Northwest Inlander’s 14th Annual Best of Survey.

The gala and celebrity golf tournament held in August 2006 is co-chaired by Gonzaga University men's basketball coach Mark Few and his wife Marcy. The event has raised more than $1.5 million for the American Cancer Society in the past five years, largely thanks to support from major sponsors such as Northern Quest Casino, which donated more than $125,000 to the cause. This growing BasketBall gala is the largest Coaches vs. Cancer gala event in the country.

The Fews model their annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Classic and BasketBall gala after the yearly black-tie event Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and his wife Juli started seven years ago in central New York.

The Spokane Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall gala, presented by Northern Quest Casino and held at the Davenport Hotel, is traditionally a sell-out event. In 2006, more than 700 guests attended the gala. Attendees had the opportunity to meet sports notables such as: Adam Morrison, 2006 college basketball player of the year; Coach Loute Olsen from the University of Arizona; Neal Everett, ESPN sports commentator; Dan O’Brian, 1996 Olympic decathlon gold medalist; the Washington Redskins’ Mark Rypien, a former Superbowl MVP; and former Gonzaga greats Blake Stepp, Dan Dickau, and Richie Frahm. Jay Bilas, an ESPN basketball analyst, emceed the gala.

Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that empowers basketball coaches, their teams, and communities to join the fight against cancer. BasketBalls are black-tie galas hosted by coaches in their communities that offer an exciting evening of dancing, dinner, celebrity appearances, and a unique silent auction to support the American Cancer Society’s mission to eliminate cancer as a life-threatening disease.

The Pacific Northwest Inlander is a free weekly newspaper published in Spokane, Washington with a circulation of 46,000 throughout the inland Northwest, covering local news and culture. It is published in print and online at www.inlander.com.