American Cancer Society Names Alabama A & M Head Basketball Coach Vann Pettaway Man of the Year
July 9, 2005
Huntsville, Al—The American Cancer Society and a host of the country’s best college basketball coaches honored Alabama A & M men’s basketball coach Vann Pettaway at the recent Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama. The Society named Pettaway as the 2005 Coaches vs. Cancer Man of the Year.
Vann Pettaway
The American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer Man of the Year Award recognizes cancer survivors and non-coaching figures that advocate for the Society though the Coaches vs. Cancer program, past recipients of the award include Coaches vs. Cancer founder and former head coach Norm Stewart (Univ.of Missouri), former head coach Scott Thompson (Cornell University) and Jim Boeheim (Syracuse Univ.). The Coaches vs. Cancer Man of the Year was selected by members of the Coaches vs. Cancer program.
“Of all the honorees who have received this award, Coach Pettaway is certainly one of the most special,” said Jim Satalin, director of Coaches vs. Cancer. “His fight is one of courage and dignity, and not only is he a great coach, but he is a great person and a great volunteer for the American Cancer Society.”
Pettaway has guided the Alabama A & M men’s basketball team for 19 successful seasons. Pettaway and his Bulldogs made history this season (18-14) taking home the title of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Champions and even making it to the opening round of the NCAA Playoffs. Pettaway was also named Coach of the Year by the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Pettaway, a prostate cancer survivor, has been very active with the American Cancer Society, supporting and leading several projects. During the month of February, for Black History Awareness Month, Pettaway and Alabama A & M Athletic Director, Jim Martin, both who are cancer survivors made a call to action for African Americans in North Alabama to get an annual check up and talk to their doctor about cancer screenings. Pettaway is also involved in Relay For Life and served as honorary chair of this year’s American Cancer Society Madison County Golf Championship. At this year’s SWAC Championship, Pettaway was recognized for his contributions to the American Cancer Society with the organizations Hope Award.
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 information about cancer, call toll-free anytime 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the American Cancer Society Web site at
www.cancer.org.
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Thursday, July 14th 2005 at 12:58AM
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