Feb. 17, 2012

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College men's basketball Head Coach Ed Cooley has partnered with ON THE LINE to show support for prostate cancer awareness by wearing a bowtie at the Georgetown game on Saturday, February 18, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center and at DePaul on February 25, in Chicago, Ill.

One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, making prostate cancer more prevalent than breast cancer. African American men are at even greater risk, as one in five will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. African American men are also more likely to develop prostate cancer than other ethnic groups and are more likely to die from the disease.

During Black History Month in February, ON THE LINE, a national prostate cancer education and awareness campaign, is teaming up with the Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA), the organization that represents and supports African American collegiate basketball and football coaches, to encourage African American men to not only learn the risk factors of prostate cancer, but also how to communicate with loved ones and physicians about their health.

ON THE LINE and the BCA are proclaiming the week of February 18th - 26th as "Statement Week." During Statement Week, nearly 100 African American NCAA Division 1 men's basketball coaches will show their support and raise awareness of prostate cancer by wearing a bow tie and an ON THE LINE button during their games. Partnering with such an impressive and extensive team of coaches will create an unprecedented level of prostate cancer awareness across America not only in the NCAA arenas, but in the homes of the millions of Americans that will be tuning in to watch their favorite teams on television.

"Educating African American men about the risk factors for prostate cancer is of the utmost importance and is a matter of great concern for our association," said Floyd Keith, Executive Director of the Black Coaches & Administrators. "Our coaches are proud to wear the bow tie and make a statement for men's health."

Leading the charge for ON THE LINE during Statement Week will be Tubby Smith, prostate cancer survivor and Head Coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers Men's Basketball team.

"Being a prostate cancer survivor, I understand the importance of talking to your doctor and learning your risk factors," said Tubby Smith. "Thanks to ON THE LINE and the BCA, a new generation of African American men will be armed with the facts and the tools necessary to beat prostate cancer."

In addition to Coach Cooley and Tubby Smith, the ON THE LINE roster of coaches participating in Statement Week includes Tommy Amaker of Harvard University, Mike Anderson of the University of Arkansas, Tony Barbee of Auburn University, Johnny Dawkins of Stanford University, Anthony Grant of the University of Alabama, Frank Haith of the University of Missouri, Leonard Hamilton of Florida State University, Paul Hewitt of George Mason University, Trent Johnson of Louisiana State University, Cuonzo Martin of the University of Tennessee, Oliver Purnell of DePaul University, Craig Robinson of Oregon State University, Lorenzo Romar of the University of Washington, Shaka Smart of Virginia Commonwealth University and John Thompson III of Georgetown University among others.

To learn more visit www.ontheline.com.

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