American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic 2024 E-Update

March 2024￨Issue No. 4

How well do you know your Las Vegas Golf Classic history?

(See answers below.)

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1) Which current Classic golf course hosted the very first day of the tournament in 2008, welcoming 13 foursomes?

2) Which current sponsor is a founding partner of the Classic?

3) Which special guest has attended or performed at the Classic over the years?

A. Baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux

B. Country music superstar Toby Keith

C. Basketball Hall of Famer Dr. J (Julius Erving) 

D. All of the above

4) In what year did MGM Resorts International begin hosting Classic attendees?

5) Becoming presenting sponsor of the Classic in 2017, this supporter’s $250,000 contribution helped push the total raised to more than $1 million net for the first time in the event’s history.

6) In 2019, these supporters donated an additional $50,000 to the Classic in honor of Terry O’Bryan, Coach Lon Kruger’s sister, who had recently passed away.

7) In 2017, three of the four coaches who led their teams to the Final Four a month earlier participated in the Classic. Name them.

8) In 2015, the popular “Hole Hero” program launched in honor of these two Classic supporters.

9) 2024 marks 10 years of support from these two Classic sponsors.

10) Name an attendee who has shot a hole-in-one during the Classic.

11) To name a few, these supporters were recognized as members of the Classic’s All-Decade Team in 2017.

A. Lon Kruger (Classic founder), Roy Williams (North Carolina - retired), Dana Altman (Oregon), Tim Miles (San Jose State) and Bob Chipman (Washburn - retired)

B. Kansas State supporters Mike Clark and John Chandler

C. Oklahoma supporter Scott Shuler

D. Bell Trans' Brent Bell

E. All of the above

12) Since 2021, ESPN’s Sean Farnham has teamed with the Davenport Tower to sell the “Farnham _________,” with proceeds benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. 

REGISTRATION INFO NEEDED

EVENT IS JUST TWO MONTHS AWAY - SECURE YOUR PLANS

Player information is needed for those with foursomes in the May 19-21 Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic presented by Sanford Health. Click here to complete the registration form and return it to Samantha Molinero with American Cancer Society at samantha.molinero@cancer.org as soon as possible. Player information and payments are due by April 12.

More information is also available on the Classic's website. 

Those interested in playing - but who have yet to secure a foursome - please contact Lon Kruger at lonkruger12@gmail.com regarding the status of the waiting list. 

Hotel accommodations on the evenings of 5/19 and 5/20 are included with tournament registration fees. The American Cancer Society is unable to provide complimentary rooms for participants on Saturday (May 18) or Tuesday (May 21). Park MGM has offered special room rates (for the first 50 rooms booked each night) for participants on the following days - Friday, $279 plus taxes/fees and Tuesday, $89 plus taxes/fees. The current rate for Saturday is $662 plus taxes/fees and is subject to change based on demand. Contact Samantha Molinero (email address above) to inquire about staying additional nights.



Head coaches committed for this May include:

Dana Altman

Oregon

Greg McDermott

Creighton

Fred Hoiberg

Nebraska

Porter Moser

Oklahoma

Chris Crutchfield

Omaha

Mark Schmidt

St. Bonaventure

Bob Chipman

Washburn (retired)

Lon Kruger

Retired

James Jones

Yale

Tubby Smith

High Point (retired)

Jerome Tang

Kansas State

Tim Miles

San Jose State

Ron Cottrell

Houston Christian

Ron McHenry

Washburn (retired)

Fran McCaffery

Iowa

Brad Underwood

Illinois/CvC Council Chair

Kevin Kruger

UNLV

Jerod Haase

Stanford

Reggie Theus

Bethune-Cookman

Pete Herrmann

Young Harris (retired)

Chris Klieman

Kansas State FB

How did you do? Check out some of the Classic's rich history below.

1) TPC Summerlin hosted the Classic's very first day in 2008, welcoming 13 foursomes.

2) Nike is a founding partner of the Classic providing highly sought-after gear for golfers. A special thank you to Eric Lautenbach and Mike Egan for their dedication and support over the years.

3) Fortunately, all special guests shown have been a part of the Classic team. Baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux hit the links in 2010. Country music superstar Toby Keith and his band graciously donated two memorable performances - one in 2012 performing in Coach Kruger's Las Vegas backyard and the other in 2014 at MGM Grand. Basketball Hall of Famer Dr. J (Julius Erving) attended in 2012.

4) MGM Resorts International joined the Classic team in 2011 and became the engine that makes this event possible - hosting attendees at Bellagio Las Vegas (2011-12), MGM Grand (2013-20) and Park MGM (2021-present).

5) Sanford Health was named presenting sponsor of the Classic in 2017 and has contributed $3.25 million over the last eight years. We cannot thank Bill Gassen and his team enough for their passion to help end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

6) In 2019, longtime supporters Derek and Christin Thompson of NextGen Cattle Co. demonstrated their unwavering commitment by donating an additional $50,000 to the Classic in honor of Terry O’Bryan, Coach Lon Kruger’s sister, who had recently passed away.

7) In 2017, Oregon's Dana Altman, North Carolina's Roy Williams and South Carolina's Frank Martin led their teams to the Final Four just one month prior to participating in the Classic.

8) In 2015, the popular “Hole Hero” program launched in honor of Classic participants Peter Mindock and Ted Seagroves who, sadly, lost their battles with cancer. Mindock was a Colorado State supporter while Seagroves was a dear friend of Coach Roy Williams. If you are interested in recognizing a loved one who has passed away from cancer, is being treated for cancer or is a survivor through the "Hole Hero" program, contact bridget.byrne@xsosofsuccess.com.

9) Both The UPS Store and Comprehensive Cancer Centers are celebrating ten years of remarkable support for the Classic. In 2015, Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada in affiliation with The US Oncology Network and Las Vegas' ESPN Radio presented the first "Mission Moment."

10) Micah Aberson (2017), Craig Seibert (2019), Bob Cunningham (2020) and Joey Biggs (2022) have shot holes-in-one during the Classic.

11) To name a few, Lon Kruger (Classic founder), Roy Williams (North Carolina - retired), Dana Altman (Oregon), Tim Miles (San Jose State), Bob Chipman (Washburn - retired), Kansas State supporters Mike Clark & John Chandler, Oklahoma supporter Scott Shuler and Bell Trans' Brent Bell were recognized as members of the Classic's All-Decade Team in 2017.

12) Since 2021, ESPN’s Sean Farnham has teamed with the Davenport Tower to sell the “Farnham Flatbread,” raising over $65,000 in support of Coaches vs. Cancer. 

Join other top sponsors in the fight against cancer

Want to join the likes of Sanford Health, MGM Resorts International, NextGen Cattle Co., Nike, The UPS Store, Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Wald Family Foods, RBC Capital Markets and Xs & Os of Success and play an even bigger role in supporting Coaches vs. Cancer? All while gaining valuable exposure for your organization? 

There are new ways available for you to engage with this unique event. Click here to check out how you and/or your company can get involved and team with the American Cancer Society. 

For more information, contact Bridget Byrne at bridget.byrne@xsosofsuccess.com or (702) 275-1124 or Samantha Molinero at samantha.molinero@cancer.org or (954) 639-2101.

A special thank you to our sponsors

Gail McNally & Shelly Wilson

Want to join the likes of Sanford Health, MGM Resorts International, NextGen Cattle Co., Nike, The UPS Store, Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Wald Family Foods, RBC Capital Markets and Xs & Os of Success and play an even bigger role in supporting Coaches vs. Cancer? All while gaining valuable exposure for your organization? 

Find out more about becoming a sponsor of the 2024 Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic by contacting Bridget Byrne at bridget.byrne@xsosofsuccess.com or (702) 275-1124.

Have questions about the 17^th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic? 

Visit the Classic's website or contact Samantha Molinero with American Cancer Society at samantha.molinero@cancer.org or (954) 639-2101.