Jan. 24, 2012

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Are you ready to help men’s basketball head coach Mike Brey earn $100,000 for his favorite charity?

Brey, whose cornerstone charity is Coaches vs. Cancer, and 47 of his counterparts are taking part in the “Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge” that is part of a ongoing corporate partnership with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the NCAA and ESPN. A $100,000 donation will be made to the winning coach’s designated charity.

Irish fans are encouraged to vote daily at ESPN.com/Infiniti. Be sure to follow @NDMikeBrey and @NDmbb on Twitter for updates throughout the contest.

Fan participation will determine the ultimate winner over the eight-week period beginning in January. For the first six weeks, four brackets of 12 coaches will be paired against each other, with the winners from each group moving onto the next round in week seven and the final round in week eight. Fans can vote for up to four coaches per day. The winning coach will be announced March 9. All 48 coaches’ charities are guaranteed at least $5,000 from Infiniti.

The challenge has expanded from 14 NABC members last year to 48 this season. Other coaches participating in the challenge with their designated charities include Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun, West Virginia’s Bob Huggins, Duke’s Mike Krzyewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Kentucky’s John Calipari and Villanova’s Jay Wright.

“The overwhelming popularity of men’s college basketball provides an outstanding platform for coaches across America,” NABC President Ernie Kent said. “While most fans follow every aspect of their teams’ on-court performances, the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge enables people to see the numerous charitable and community endeavors championed by coaches off the court.”

The total Infiniti contribution will be more than $300,000.

–ND–