This weekend basketball coaches across the country will trade in their Florsheims for sneakers to raise awareness for cancer, an event aptly called Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers.
St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin and his staff will be active participants in this year’s event, although you might not notice it. Lavin and his staff ditched their Florsheims and neck ties for the cause last season and shocked then No. 3 ranked Duke 93-78. Since then, Lavin and his staff have been pacing the baseline with all-white Air Force Ones and open collars.
The Red Storm are 19-15 since their signature win and coach Lavin does not appear to be going back, “It’s not the record or good luck, but I think our staff agrees we’re much more comfortable in terms of breathing and then the shoes allow you to move a little better on the sideline,” Lavin said according to a statement from St. John’s.
This year’s event will hit a little closer to home, as coach Lavin battles prostate cancer. Despite a short four-game coaching stint a mere 33 days after his surgery, doctors advised he coach off the court—which is a suite at Madison Square Garden for home games.
“I have to listen to my doctors. Why would you risk that? With the modified schedule I can still manage the program and work with the team,” coach Lavin said on the team’s website.
Despite his recent success with the Coaches vs. Cancer weekend, Lavin is no stranger to the cause. He has been a crusader in fighting cancer for over a decade and raised $1 million for the Coaches vs. Cancer organization in his short tenure with St. John’s.
The Red Storm will march into Carmeron Indoor on Saturday, facing No. 8 ranked Duke in the Coaches vs. Cancer weekend rematch. Lavin may be absent from the sideline—but he will certainly be wearing his Air Force Ones.
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