Men's & Women's Basketball to Host Annual Carney's Coaches vs Cancer Game on Feb. 7

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - In an effort to raise awareness and find a cure, as well as to honor survivors and those who lost their battles with cancer, Allan Hancock College Athletics will be hosting the annual Carney's Coaches vs. Cancer event next week. The event is scheduled to take place inside of the Joe White Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday, February 7th, as the Bulldogs host Oxnard College. The men's game is scheduled to tip-off at 5 PM, followed by the women's game at 7 PM. 

"Every family, one way or another, has been affected by this disease. We want to do our part to make a difference in this battle by raising awareness and helping support cancer research and local services in our community," said Hancock Athletic Director Kim Ensing. "Coach Carney in particular reminds us to keep up the fight and never give up. This event will always be a testament to his fight and the strength demonstrated by him and the entire Carney family."

This marks the 11th annual Coaches vs. Cancer event hosted by the Bulldogs on the Hancock campus. The event was renamed in honor of Larry Carney, a former women's basketball assistant coach, in 2015. The Central Coast legend was first diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was 49 years old and is a four-time cancer survivor. His road to treatment over the years has included hormone therapy, radiation, chemotherapy, and a trip to the Netherlands for a Combidex scan. Carney has lost both his father and his brother to cancer and has donated more than $12,000 to Mission Hope and the American Cancer Society in memory of his family over the last few years.

Coaches vs. Cancer is a national event, but Coach Carney decided long ago that he wanted this special event to benefit the community. "I grew up in this town — this is my hometown. I've lived here almost all of my life and I know everybody, so I want to keep it local to serve the people we know and work with every day," Coach Carney stated. The Carney family relies on the strength of the Jim Valvano speech and Coach Carney himself has adopted the motto, "Don't give up. Don't ever give up."

All proceeds from ticket sales and concession sales from the Coaches vs. Cancer event, along with any donations made on-site, will be sent to the Marian Medical Center's Mission Hope Cancer Center. Tickets be purchased at ahcbulldogs.com/ticketing.