Vegas’ Coaches Vs. Cancer Golf Tournament Is Biggest Golf Fundraiser

All college basketball coaches strive to be number one. Lon Kruger, even though retired, is still just that as the national chairperson of the national Coaches vs. Cancer Council who oversees what is now the largest golf fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The 2023 Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic, presented by Sanford Health, raised nearly $1.7 million.

Top photo: L to R: Craig Barlow, Scott Hoffman, Jerry Kruger, Runnin’ Rebel head coach Kevin Kruger

The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The Las Vegas Golf Classic – hosted by MGM Resorts International – is a signature event of the national program.

L to R: UNLV Deputy Athletics Director, External Mike Ketcham and UNLV AD Erick Harper

The 16th annual event was held Monday & Tuesday (May 15-16) at four different and prestigious golf courses–Shadow Creek, Southern Highlands, Cascata and TPC Summerlin. The event featured nearly 300 golfers and also included two evening parties held at the NoMad Pool and JEWEL Nightclub. Plus college coaches and other notables including Craig Barlow, a former PGA Tour player who recently qualified for the U.S. Senior Open. He is currently the director of instruction at the High-Performance Golf Institute at Reflection Bay Golf Club.

L to R: Jared Brown and Lady Rebel head coach Lindy La Rocque

A list of coaches and other college basketball notables

Kevin Kruger, UNLV

Dana Altman, Oregon

Brad Underwood, Illinois

Roy Williams, North Carolina – retired

Matt Painter, Purdue

Fran McCaffery, Iowa

Greg McDermott, Creighton

Tubby Smith, High Point – retired

Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska

Andy Enfield, USC

Jerod Haase, Stanford

Chris Crutchfield, Omaha

Tim Miles, San Jose State

Ron Cottrell, Houston Christian

Jim Harrick, UCLA – retired

Bob Chipman, Washburn – retired

Ron McHenry, Washburn – retired

Lindy La Rocque, UNLV

Chris Klieman, Kansas State – Football

Erick Harper, UNLV AD

Gene Taylor, Kansas State AD

Sean Farnham, ESPN

For more information regarding the Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic, contact Samantha Molinero of the American Cancer Society at 702.529.0364 or Samantha.Molinero@cancer.org.

About Coaches vs. Cancer

The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The program seeks to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living among students, faculty and staff, fans and the community at large. Since its inception in 1993, the American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer initiative has raised more than $140 million to support the Society’s mission.