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 HarperThe 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 RocqueA 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.