Nearly 30 celebrity coaches, including Baseball Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog, MU head football coach Gary Pinkel and former MU Tiger football player and NFL assistant coach Johnny Roland, joined more than 100 local golfers in raising a record $77,450 for MU Children's Hospital. The first MPIX Coaches for Kids Celebrity Golf Classic was held June 13 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia.
The $77,450 raised represents the largest amount raised at a single charity golf event in the Columbia area. View the highlight video below:
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"It is a blessing to see so many celebrity coaches rally together to support our patients at Children's Hospital," said Timothy Fete, MD, medical director of Children's Hospital and chair of the Department of Child Health at the MU School of Medicine. "All of us at Children's Hospital want to thank the coaches and sponsors of the Coaches for Kids Celebrity Golf Classic for helping our patients grow into their dreams as healthy, happy kids."
The Coaches for Kids Celebrity Golf Classic was the brainchild of advertising executive, long-time University of Missouri supporter and alumnus, and American Advertising Federation Hall of Famer Jack Smith of Columbia.
"I organized this tournament because I work on the advertising for Children's Hospital, and I know firsthand what a great hospital it is," Smith said. "The Coaches for Kids Celebrity Golf Classic united some very important coaches for a very important cause."
Smith credits much of the tournament's success to the coaches who gave their time to play in the tournament and the outpouring of support from more than 30 local, state and national sponsors.
In addition to Herzog, Pinkel and Roland, the celebrity coaches participating in the tournament included:
Mike Alden, MU Athletic Director and former assistant football coach at University of Evansville
Terry Allen, head football coach at Missouri State University
Kim Anderson, head basketball coach at University of Central Missouri
Bryan Blitz, head women's soccer coach at MU
Dave Christensen, head football coach at the University of Wyoming
Ehren Earleywine, head softball coach at MU
Jim Hanifan, broadcaster and former head coach of the St. Louis Rams
Josh Henson, MU football offensive line coach at MU
Andy Hill, MU football receivers' coach
Mike Jones, head football coach at Lincoln University and former MU and NFL player
John Kadlec, special assistant to MU athletic director and former MU assistant football coach
Matt Lawrence, assistant basketball coach at MU
Ted LePage, head football coach at Jefferson City High School
Gary Link, special assistant to MU athletic director
Brian McRae, former Kansas City Royals baseball player and coach of the U.S. World Baseball Team
Rich Poe, former men's head golf coach at MU
Warren Powers, former Mizzou football head coach and NFL player
Stephanie Priesmeyer, head women's golf coach at MU
Mary Scott, former women's head golf coach at MU
Jay Spoonhour, head basketball coach at Moberly Area Community College
Dave Steckel, MU football defensive coordinator
Bob Stull, athletic director at the University of Texas-El Paso and former head football coach at MU
Bill Tobin, NFL scout and former MU football player
John Utley, teaching pro and former All-American golfer at MU
Tony Van Zant, assistant football coach at Lincoln University
David Yost, MU football offensive coordinator
The title sponsor of the tournament was MPIX. The tournament's major sponsors were the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute and Columbia Orthopaedic Group. Presenting sponsors included Aflac, Emery Sapp & Sons Inc., Forrest Chevrolet, Jack Smith Creative Services Inc., PIC-1 Medical, Gary Pinkel, Bob and Connie Pugh, Sundvold Financial and The Insurance Group.
The tournament's chief sponsors were Commerce Bank, KRCG-TV, PIC-1 Medical, and Zimmer Radio. Supporting sponsors included Baker HD, Century Link, Fast Signs, N.H. Scheppers Distribution Company, P&D Electric Inc., Shelter Insurance, Drs. Mike and Jan Sherman, Chris Smith, the Tiger Institute for Health Innovation, Titleist and Walsworth.
In addition, tee sponsors included Mike and Rockie Alden, AnnaBelle Events, Atkins, Boone County National Bank, the Churchill Family, Coil Construction, Hawthorn Bank, Landmark Bank, McCormick Home Improvement, McDonald's (Mark and Kate Mehle), Mid America Harley-Davidson, Providence Bank, Jim and Doris Ross and University Physicians.
Coordinating the event was Anne Churchill, owner of AnnaBelle Events and Rentals.
