Infiniti announced that it will once again sponsor the “Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge” as part of its partnership with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the NCAA and ESPN. Nine men's basketball coaches in the Big 12 will take part.
Now in its sixth year, the program consists of 48 NCAA Division I men’s basketball coaches competing for fan votes in a four-round contest that helps raise money for charities of the coaches’ choice. Scott Drew (Baylor), Steve Prohm (Iowa State), Bill Self (Kansas), Bruce Weber (K-State), Lon Kruger (Oklahoma), Travis Ford (Oklahoma State), Shaka Smart (Texas), Tubby Smith (Texas Tech) and Bob Huggins (West Virginia) are participating in 2016.
Infiniti, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, has pledged to make donations throughout the competition totaling over $345,000. The farther the coaches advance in the competition, the more money is raised for their respective charities. The winning coach will receive $100,000 to benefit his charity of choice.
Beginning January 4, fans will decide who the winner is over a 10 week period, casting votes on a custom online microsite at www.espn.com/infiniti. Voters can cast one vote per day for a coach’s charity.
The first round of voting takes place January 4 and runs through January 24, with half of the coaches advancing to a second round, held between January 25 and February 14. From February 15 to February 28, the 16 advancing coaches from round two will compete in a third round where only four coaches advance to the final, fourth round. From February 29 to March 13, fans can vote for one coach per day with the top vote-getting coach and charity announced on March 13, 2016.
”The significant contributions made by men’s college basketball coaches in their own communities and across America are amplified by the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge,” said NABC Executive Director Jim Haney. ”In the past five years through the Challenge, college basketball fans across the country have joined with these outstanding coaches to raise funds and awareness for a great number of charitable organizations.”
“The Infiniti Coaches Charity Challenge is a great way for fans to team with coaches in an effort to raise awareness and funds for causes that positively impact so many people,” said Mark Lewis, NCAA executive vice president for championships and alliances. “We’re proud to partner with Infiniti, NABC, ESPN and some of the best coaches in intercollegiate athletics who are viewed as role models for our student-athletes when they give back to their communities.”
ESPN will promote the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge across many different platforms including ESPN broadcast, ESPN.com and several social media platforms.