Monday, March 26, 2001
Wallace earns University of Hawaii men's basketball coach Riley Wallace learned Saturday he has won the Coaches vs. Cancer national coach of the year award. But he said the honor really belongs to the entire state.
national award
Coaches vs. Cancer
By Dave Reardon
honor really goes to
entire state, he says
Star-BulletinWallace was cited partly because of Hawaii's consistent fund-raising for the American Cancer Society. Money is raised through activities such as the 3-Point Attack, where donations are pledged for each 3-point shot made during the season by the UH men's and women's teams.
Hawaii raised about $140,000 last year, and local co-chairman Don Murphy said this year's donations could approach that amount.
"I'm happy because this is a very special thing for Hawaii," said Wallace, contacted on the mainland yesterday. "We asked the people in Hawaii to support us and, as usual, they stepped up big-time.
"They're saying Hawaii's one of the good states, with a good university that backs a good cause. It's recognition for me, but it's really about how people in Hawaii are willing to give."
Wallace heard the news from Murphy. Murphy was notified by cancer survivor Norm Stewart, the retired longtime Missouri coach who helped found Coaches vs. Cancer eight years ago.
"He said it was a unanimous vote of the selection committee," Murphy said.
Murphy said another factor in Wallace winning the award was the Rainbows' successful season, which ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance, a first-round loss to Syracuse, 79-69, on March 16.
Hawaii has lost its last two NCAA Tournament games to the Orangemen and came in second to Syracuse in last year's Coaches vs. Cancer fundraising.
"This is also rewarding because the school that raises the most money every year is Syracuse," Murphy said.
Wallace said he did not know when and where he would receive the award. He and the rest of the Hawaii coaching staff will be at the Final Four this weekend in Minneapolis.
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