Mike Rice Named to NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Council
Mar 27 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 27, 2012) - Rutgers University Head Men's Basketball Coach Mike Rice has been named to the NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Council. Rice is one of three new additions to the Council, along with Missouri's Frank Haith and BYU's Dave Rose.
"I am truly honored to be named to the Council," said Rice. "Cancer is a terrible disease that touches all of us. To come together with so many accomplished individuals in the coaching profession so that this terrible disease may one day meet a cure is significant. The Rice family and Rutgers Basketball look forward to continuing a very productive relationship with Coaches vs. Cancer."
"Mike has been a tremendous proponent of the Coaches vs. Cancer program when he was at Robert Morris and now at Rutgers," said National Program Director Jim Satelin. "He is dedicated to helping us make a difference in this fight. He and his wife Kerry have just been fabulous in their efforts. They are truly passionate about this and that's what we are looking for. We also need some new guys that are going to be in the coaching profession for a long time at a high level. We are thrilled to have Mike on board."
The Coaches vs. Cancer Council brings together members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), American Cancer Society volunteers, and business leaders from across the country to explore new and innovative ways to fund the fight against cancer and send the powerful message that we can win. Current head coaches on the Council include Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Jim Calhoun (UConn), Ed DeChellis (Navy), Fran Dunphy (Temple), Mark Few (Gonzaga), Lon Kruger (Oklahoma), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Phil Martelli (St. Joseph's), Fran McCaffery (Iowa), Oliver Purnell (DePaul), Tubby Smith (Minnesota) and Roy Williams (North Carolina).
The Rice family and RU basketball hosted a tip-off dinner and fundraiser at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 4 to benefit Coaches vs. Cancer. Fans and friends of the program had the opportunity for an up-close look at the Scarlet Knights at the fun and friendly affair, which was centered around a team practice. Approximately $40,000 was raised for the fight against cancer that evening.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of college and high school coaches across the country, Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised nearly $70 million since 1993 to help the Society save lives by educating and empowering people to avoid cancer or find it early, helping people facing cancer make decisions and overcome obstacles in their personal fight, investing in research that yields groundbreaking discoveries into cancer's causes and cures and helping pass laws that fight cancer and keep our communities healthy.
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information, call toll free, 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
