Commitment to the Cause

Coaches vs. Cancer evolved from a concept championed by Norm Stewart, former head coach of the University of Missouri's men's basketball program, cancer survivor, and member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He started the program by challenging fans to pledge a dollar amount for every three points made by his team during the season.

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The American Cancer Society and the NABC adopted that concept in 1993 and transformed it into a nationwide effort to unite coaches across the country in the common mission to provide help and hope to all people facing cancer. 

 

Coach Eddie Sutton and Coach Stewart were friends, and Eddie was inspired to join the effort and brought the Coaches vs Cancer program to Oklahoma State University. Since the inception of the national Coaches vs Cancer program in 1993, Coach Eddie Sutton and his team of Coaches vs Cancer volunteers have helped to improve the lives of families fighting cancer. Driven by his caring heart and desire to help others, Coach Sutton was instrumental in building the Coaches vs. Cancer program at OSU into the nationally recognized program it is today, 

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Now, in honor of this legacy, the creation of The Eddie Sutton Foundation and expansion of Coaches vs Cancer to Cowboys vs Cancer will foster broad, flexible efforts to provide meaningful experiences for those battling the disease. To this end, The Eddie Sutton Foundation will promote a variety of activities, such as continuing to host cancer survivors at OSU sporting events and creating memorable OSU experiences for the families, as well as coordinating the annual Birthday Bash for statewide pediatric cancer patients. In addition, the Foundation will align with reputable research organizations to support cancer research, emphasizing pediatric cancer. These activities were very close to Coach Sutton's heart, and will continue to be the heart of the foundation mission.