Coaches vs. Cancer

Rivalry on the basketball court runs deep in Philadelphia. Every year, Division I programs around the city channel that passion into Coaches vs. Cancer (CVC), a partnership between the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. “It’s a great opportunity to promote the work of the American Cancer Society, and the need to get involved in the fight,” says Ali Gill, ACS senior development manager.

Philadelphia is home to the most successful CVC program in the nation. The Philly 6 — which includes St. Joe’s, Temple, Drexel, UPenn, La Salle and Villanova — have raised more than $17 million for the ACS since 1996. Philly CVC won’t stop until they crush cancer (it’s their motto).

When CVC comes around each year, the St. Joe’s men’s basketball program and its core values — respect, elevate and serve — really shine. “... They have to be more than just words on a wall,” says Head Coach Billy Lange. “They. have to be things that we’re trying to live out.”

Through CVC, the program does just that. Last season, they supported Jacob, a young man who was battling a rare type of bone cancer in his leg and is now cancer-free. This January, Coach Billy Lange and his staff wore white sneakers with gold laces for the annual “Suits & Sneakers Week,” held in memory of 8-year-old fan Lacey Holsworth, who passed away from cancer in 2014.

The “Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast” was hosted virtually on March 15 and 16, featuring guest speaker and ESPN “Bracketologist” Joe Lunardi ’82. The CVC’s “BasketBall,” traditionally a black-tie gala, was also held virtually in April and honored another St. Joe’s grad, Daniel Hilferty ’78, former president and CEO of Independence Blue Cross, who is a champion of cancer fundraising efforts.