The Sun Belt Conference and the American Cancer Society have teamed up to create a conference-wide partnership -- Sun Belt Fights Cancer (SunBeltFightsCancer.org) -- through the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative.
 
For the 2017-18 basketball season, the Sun Belt and its member schools are set to participate in Coaches vs. Cancer’s Suits & Sneakers Week and 3-Point Challenge.
 
SUITS & SNEAKERS WEEK
Beginning with games during the week of Jan. 22 through games over the Feb. 1-3 weekend, Sun Belt men’s and women’s coaches will swap their dress shoes for sneakers and gold Princess Lacey’s laces and join more than 4,000 basketball coaches and staff across the country in support of the American Cancer Society’s efforts to combat cancer. In addition, Division I men’s basketball coaches will also be wearing an exclusive Coaches vs. Cancer tie designed by Vineyard Vines.
 
Suits and Sneakers Week is a nationwide event that unites coaches across the country to raise funds and awareness about the fight against cancer and promotes the American Cancer Society as a source of inspiration and hope for those facing cancer.
 
The Suits & Sneakers games for Sun Belt schools are:

School	Game(s)
Appalachian State	Monday, Jan. 22 at Troy, Thursday, Jan. 25 vs. Little Rock and Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Arkansas State
Little Rock	Thursday, Feb. 1 vs. Georgia Southern
Arkansas State	Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Georgia Southern
Coastal Carolina	Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Little Rock
Georgia Southern	Thursday, Jan. 25 vs. Texas State
Georgia State	Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Texas State
Louisiana	Thursday, Jan. 25 vs. South Alabama and Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Troy
ULM	Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. South Alabama
South Alabama	Thursday, Jan. 25 at Louisiana and Saturday, Jan. 27 at ULM
UTA	Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Coastal Carolina
Texas State	Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Appalachian State
Troy	Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Coastal Carolina and Monday, Jan. 22 vs. Appalachian State

 
3-POINT CHALLENGE
During the month of February, Sun Belt men’s and women’s basketball coaches are also set to participate in the Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge. The conference and its member schools encourage fans, corporate partners and media to join the excitement by joining your favorite team to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society.
 
Fans now have the opportunity to pledge a dollar amount for every 3-pointer made by their favorite teams by clicking on the 3PointChallenge.org link on SunBeltFightsCancer.org. The funds raised will help the American Cancer Society continue its mission to improving and saving lives by doing the most to help people with cancer today and working tirelessly to find cures for the disease tomorrow.
 
Follow the 3-Point Challenge competition nationally at 3PointChallenge.org/College.
 
More than 20 years ago, Norm Stewart, former head coach of the University of Missouri's men's basketball program, cancer survivor, and member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, provided the vision and inspiration to create Coaches vs. Cancer. He challenged fans to pledge a dollar amount for every 3-Point shot made by his team during the season. The concept, then called the 3-Point Attack, evolved into a nationwide effort uniting coaches, fans, players, and communities across the country to assist in the fight against cancer.
 
About Coaches vs. Cancer
Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. This initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Since 1993, coaches have raised more than $100 million for the American Cancer Society.
 
For more information on the Coaches vs. Cancer, visit www.coachesvscancer.org.
 
About the Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference continues to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with in competition. In its fifth decade as a vibrant and vigorous part of the collegiate landscape, the Sun Belt has never shied away from taking a leadership role among conferences in its efforts to provide better experiences for its member schools, its student-athletes and coaches and for its fans and followers.
 
During the recent 2016-17 academic year, Sun Belt member institutions awarded more than $50 million in scholarships to more than 3,100 student-athletes, while also providing life experiences such as team building, domestic and foreign travel, community service, mentoring and recognition through honors and awards.
 
For more information on the Sun Belt Conference, visit www.sunbeltsports.org.