NCAA: Coaches Take Game to Middle East

Coaches Take Game to Middle East: Several high-profile coaches helped bring some entertainment to U.S. troops stationed in Kuwait. Dubbed Operation Hardwood, coaches like South Carolina’s Dave Odom and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo led a basketball tournament for U.S. military personnel who continue to fight in Iraq. Izzo and Odom led Camp Arifjan to the championship in the tournament, but Odom said the highlight was observing the high morale and dedication of the U.S. military members. He said he wanted to find a way to share that dedication and energy with his players, who focus on daily concerns like money and playing time, as most college students do. Other college basketball figures who participated in Operation Hardwood include former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, former St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis, Alabama coach Mark Gottfried, Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson, Charlotte caoch Bobby Lutz and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.
[9/4/05]