CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Brad Underwood will be honored for his long time commitment in the fight against cancer, as the sixth-year Fighting Illini head coach will be presented the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award on Friday during the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) awards ceremony in Houston.
For nearly 30 years, the Coaches vs. Cancer program, in collaboration with the NABC, has united coaches and fans nationwide to help the American Cancer Society defeat a common enemy – cancer. The Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award recognizes and promotes one outstanding Division I collegiate coach annually who has made extraordinary, significant, and sustained contributions to the American Cancer Society’s mission of improving the lives of people with cancer and their families and ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
The individual receiving this prestigious honor:
- Serves the Society as a leader in community mission delivery and revenue generating programs
- Makes a significant impact on and contributes to the furtherance of the Society’s strategic goals and mission driven programs with demonstrated leadership progression
- Represents the Society in a manner that advances the Society’s cause and expands its community presence
- Demonstrates a continuing commitment to the Society through a willingness to serve
Underwood has served on the Coaches Council of Coaches vs. Cancer for the entirety of his 10-year head coaching career. Highlighting his service to the program while at Illinois, Underwood hosts an annual country/western themed fundraiser called “Kickin’ Cancer” at Gordyville USA, a horse show arena in Gifford, Illinois, located 30 minutes outside of Champaign.
Last spring, Underwood welcomed back former Fighting Illini head coaches Bill Self and Lon Kruger as celebrity guests. The dinner was a sold-out event with more than 1,200 guests in attendance. It was the most attended social/gala for the entire Coaches vs. Cancer program last year, with the evening raising nearly $300,000.
This year’s Kickin’ Cancer event is set for Tuesday, April 11 at Gordyville USA and will have a Big Ten theme with select conference head coaches as special guests. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at coachesvscancerillinois.com.
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