OU's Lon Kruger Receives Coaches vs. Cancer Honor

Oklahoma men's basketball coach Lon Kruger has been awarded the 2012 Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award—an honor presented annually to a college coach who has been greatly engaged in the program's fundraising and education as well as been a leader in supporting the American Cancer Society.

Kruger has helped raise more than $750,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society's initiative to save lives from cancer.

"All families have been touched by cancer in some way," said Kruger, who is starting his second year at OU. "Many college coaches are doing their part to fight this terrible disease and I am proud to be a member of the Coaches vs. Cancer team."

Coach Kruger has been a member of the Coaches vs. Cancer council since 2007 with one of his main events being the Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic, an annual event that has raised more than $750,000 since launching in 2008.

In 2009, Kruger received the Legacy and Leadership Visionary Award from the American Cancer Society Las Vegas region for his dedication to Coaches vs. Cancer. In addition, Kruger has raised more than $30,000 for an American Cancer Society program providing free summer camp access to children with cancer and their siblings.

The Champion Award was presented to Kruger during this past weekend's Final Four in New Orleans, La.