Coaches wearing Nikes Saturday; Illini to wear uniforms trimmed in pink
Champaign, Ill.–Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber and his assistants will be sporting Nikes on the Assembly Hall sidelines Saturday during the game against Indiana, as college coaches across the country trade in dress shoes for the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits &?Sneakers Awareness Weekend. In addition, the Fighting Illini will wear pink-branded Nike uniforms to raise awareness about Coaches vs. Cancer and the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Coaches vs. Cancer is a collaboration between the ACS and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Since 1993, the organization has raised more than $55 million for ACS. Coach Weber serves on the Coaches vs. Cancer national board and was recognized for his contributions and involvement with the program by receiving the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award in 2007.
The shoes were designed by Dr. Cliff Johnson, who worked alongside the Illini basketball staff in creating the shoes. It was a Christmas gift from his wife, Dr. Cristina Medrano, who was the high bidder on the “Design a Nike Shoe” package that was part of a Coaches vs. Cancer auction held on WDWS radio last fall.
Illinois is one of four Nike sponsored men’s basketball programs that will showcase the pink-trimmed uniforms this weekend, joining Oregon, BYU and Iowa State. The custom designed uniforms are part of Nike’s support of the V Foundation for Cancer Research and Kay Yow Cancer Fund and compliment the Coaches vs. Cancer program.