Basketball Coaches Honored for Off-the-Court Leadership

American Cancer Society
Monday, 15 July 2002

American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer® 2002 Awards

University of Pennsylvania men's basketball coach Fran Dunphy and former Cornell University men's basketball coach Scott Thompson were recently honored by the American Cancer Society for their ongoing leadership in the battle against an off-the-court opponent tougher than any top-ranked team – cancer.

The Society, the nation's leading voluntary health organization, presented Dunphy with the Coaches vs. Cancer® Champion Award and Thompson with the Man of the Year Award. The American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award recognizes coaches for their outstanding leadership on behalf of the mission of the American Cancer Society to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. The Man of the Year Award recognizes cancer survivors and non-coaching figures that advocate for the Society through the Coaches vs. Cancer® program.

"Coach Dunphy and Coach Thompson have been extremely involved in Coaches vs. Cancer and dedicated to saving lives from the disease," said Jim Satalin, director of Coaches vs. Cancer. "Their leadership, commitment and support are instrumental in strengthening our cause."

A veteran of Ivy League coaching, Fran Dunphy has won six Ivy titles in his 12 seasons at Penn, including two consecutive in 1999 and 2000. Dunphy finished the 2001-02 season with a career record of 206-122 (.628).

Dunphy's coaching career began at the United States Military Academy (1971-72). In 1975, he became head coach of his high school alma mater, Malvern Prep, and remained there until becoming an assistant coach at La Salle (1979-80). The following year, Dunphy joined the coaching staff at American University. He returned to La Salle in 1985, leaving in 1988 to join the Penn program.

A 1970 La Salle graduate with a degree in marketing, Dunphy also played basketball at the school. In 1979, he earned a Master's degree in counseling and human relations from Villanova. Dunphy is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Philadelphia.

Colon cancer survivor and former head basketball coach at Cornell University (1996-2000), Scott Thompson is the current special assistant to the director of athletics and physical education at the university. A graduate of the University of Iowa, with a B.A. degree in political science, Thompson was an

All-Big 10 player and academic-team member. Thompson was drafted by the Detroit Pistons of the NBA in 1976. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame (1977-80). Thompson was also an assistant coach at the University of Arizona (1983-87). Thompson also has held head basketball coaching jobs at Rice University (1987-92), and Wichita State University (1992-96).

"Coaches vs. Cancer is truly dedicated to making a difference in the fight against cancer," said H. Fred Mickelson, national volunteer chairman of the American Cancer Society Board of Directors. "The commitment from coaches like Dunphy and Thompson, American Cancer Society volunteers and fans has made the future of fighting cancer even brighter."

Nominees for the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion award were submitted to the Coaches vs. Cancer Awards Committee. The committee used four criteria when making their selections: fund raising history, level of participation, number of years involved and leadership displayed with education and promotional activities. The Coaches vs. Cancer Man of the Year was selected by members of the Coaches vs. Cancer program.

Coaches vs. Cancer®, a collaboration between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society, was formed to leverage the strength, community leadership and celebrity of our country's basketball coaches. Through the efforts of more than 500 basketball coaches and the American Cancer Society, more than $18 million has been raised since 1993. The money raised supports the Society's efforts in research, education, advocacy and service in communities nationwide.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org