As part of its ongoing corporate partnership with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the NCAA and ESPN, Infiniti has announced an expanded Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge with a $100,000 donation to the winning coach’s designated charity.
Purdue head coach Matt Painter will once again take part in the initiative, representing Special Olympics for the second-straight season. Expanding from 14 participating NABC coaches last season to 48 of the nation’s top Division I coaches this year, the total Infiniti contribution will be more than $300,000.
Infiniti will donate $5,000 to each of the charities involved in the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge.
Fan participation will determine the ultimate winner over an eight-week period, beginning Jan. 18, by registering and voting on a custom microsite at espn.com/infiniti.
For the first six weeks, four brackets of 12 coaches will be paired against each other, with the winners from each group moving onto the next round (week seven) and the final round (week eight). Fans can vote for up to four coaches per day. The winning coach will be announced on March 9.
“The overwhelming popularity of men’s college basketball provides an outstanding platform for coaches across America,” NABC president Ernie Kent said. “While most fans follow every aspect of their teams’ on-court performances, the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge enables people to see the numerous charitable and community endeavors championed by coaches off the court.”
The Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge will be promoted each week through a wide range of media, including the Doug Gottlieb Radio Show on ESPN, the ESPN Game of the Week, Facebook and other social media.