Coaches vs . Cancer

CUSTOMIZED SNEAKERS: A FOCUS FOR COACHES VS. CANCER

Professional designer and “do it yourself” options available for coaches

The sneakerhead culture and Coaches vs. Cancer have teamed up.

Basketball coaches have begun wearing customized Coaches vs . Cancer sneakers during Suits And Sneakers Week (Jan . 24-30, 2022) as well as the NCAA Tournament . And the nation is taking notice .

With gameday dress evolving, Suits And Sneakers Week will look different. Thank you for ordering your apparel. Have you secured your sneakers?

Customized sneakers are not only a terrific way for coaches to bring awareness to the fight against cancer, but they also provide an easy way to raise funds to support the American Cancer Society . Last year, Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Oklahoma’s Lon Kruger, Iowa’s Fran McCaffery and Houston’s Kelvin Sampson donated the Coaches vs . Cancer sneakers they wore in the NCAA Tournament to be auctioned off .

Additionally, the sneakers allow fanbases the opportunity to engage and support coaches . Last season’s bracket competition on social media featured eight coaches’ sneakers from Suits And Sneakers Week . Followers voted through polls on Instagram and Twitter . Old Dominion’s Jeff Jones - and his rainbow sneakers - topped North Carolina’s Roy Williams for the title . The six other coaches included: TCU’s Jamie Dixon, Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing, Washington’s Mike Hopkins, Brown’s Mike Martin, Rutgers’ Steve Pikiell and Sampson .

“Customized sneakers are a terrific way to bring more awareness to Coaches vs . Cancer - especially as gameday dress is evolving for coaches,” said retired coach and CvC Council chair Lon Kruger . “Media enjoys telling the story of the customized sneakers . It’s a strong way to use our platform .”

Professionally Designed

We are once again offering coaches the chance to customize their own sneakers for both Suits And Sneakers

Week and/or the NCAA Tournament . We are working with a designer on a Coaches vs . Cancer design that can be personalized with school colors, or the designer can also create something completely custom for a coach using sneakers provided by the school . If you’d like to have your sneakers custom painted, please reach out to anne .gmerek@cancer . org for detailed instructions and to be connected with a designer .

“Do It Yourself”

But there is another option for coaches which UTSA’s Steve Henson is excited to take . Henson’s 3-yearold grandson West will be decorating Henson’s Suits And Sneakers Week sneakers this season .

“It’s a great opportunity to do something fun and interactive as a grandpa while teaching West the importance of helping other people,” said Henson, who serves on the

Coaches vs . Cancer Council . “Those sneakers are going to have such great meaning to so many people . ”

Tell Us Your Plan

Please let us know your plans with customized sneakers and/or ask questions by contacting anne . gmerek@cancer .org . We want to tell your story . During last year’s NCAA tournament several coaches teamed up with Engage to raffle off tournament-worn sneakers in support of the American Cancer Society . This partnership raised thousands of dollars, was a hit with fans, and required very little work on the coaches’ part . We hope you will consider participating in this year’s campaign . Email natalie .morrison@cancer .org if you would like to learn more .

“Customized sneakers are a terrific way to bring more awareness to Coaches vs. Cancer - especially as gameday dress is evolving for coaches.”

Customized sneakers are not only a terrific way for coaches to bring awareness to the fight against cancer, but they also provide an easy way to raise funds to support the American Cancer Society.