MADISON, Wis. — Back in October, Wisconsin basketball coach Bo Ryan and his wife, Kelly, issued a challenge to the school's students: Come to the Kohl Center and put a dent in Ryan's wallet for a good cause.
If you showed up, Ryan would donate $1 to the American Cancer Society through the Coaches vs. Cancer program. If you made a free throw, he'd give $10. If you drained a half-court shot, it was worth $1,000.
More than 1,600 students responded, and Ryan ultimately made a personal donation of $41,279.
The event was merely one example of Ryan's dedication to the fight against cancer, and his commitment was honored on Saturday. Ryan was the recipient of the 2013 Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award, presented annually to a college coach who has been significantly engaged in the program's fundraising, education and promotional initiatives and who has demonstrated leadership in supporting the American Cancer Society's fight to save lives from cancer. Ryan was honored in Atlanta as part of Final Four festivities.
Since joining Coaches vs. Cancer in 2007, Ryan has helped to raise over $1.5 million to support the American Cancer Society. He and his coaching staff turned the Coaches vs. Cancer Wisconsin Gala from a small local fundraiser into one of the state's premiere social events. The fundraiser brought in more than $420,000 in 2012, making it the largest Coaches vs. Cancer gala in the nation last year.
The Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award began in 1996 with former University of Missouri coach Norm Stewart receiving the inaugural honor. Other coaches to have received the honor include: Lon Kruger (Oklahoma); Jim Boeheim (Syracuse); Denny Crum (Louisville); Roy Williams (North Carolina); Riley Wallace (Hawaii); the Philly Six Coaches; Gary Williams (Maryland); Mark Few (Gonzaga); Mike Brey (Notre Dame); Bruce Weber (Illinois); Jim Calhoun (Connecticut); Tom Izzo (Michigan State); Oliver Purnell (DePaul).The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers coaches, their teams and communities to join the fight against cancer. Since 1993, the initiative has raised more than $87 million to support the American Cancer Society.
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