2007 NAIA Honorary Coach Program Adds to the Championship Experience

March 9, 2007

Olathe, Kan. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) hosted the annual Honorary Coach Tip-Off event on Thursday, March 8, at Screenland Theatre in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Area business and community leaders selected from a pool of 32 teams set to compete in the 70th Annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship. The tournament is played at Municipal Auditorium, March 14-20, 2007. Metro Sports own Dave Stewart emceed and the Majestic Steakhouse catered the pre-tournament festivities.

The honorary coach program provides opportunities to experience the storied tournament from the bench with teams and dreams of reaching U.S. Bank Championship Night on Tuesday, March 20 at 8 p.m. CT. The draw is set, the pairings are made and the Chuck Walden Memorial Honorary Coach trophy is in place for the 2007 tournament.

Reigning honorary coach champion Hereford House and Lambuth University (Tenn.) will meet tournament title sponsor Buffalo Funds and No. 15 seed Illinois-Springfield on Wednesday, March 14 with tip-off at 10:30 p.m. CT.

Also in the bracket are Dr. Phil and Mary Pattison who bring 27 years of experience in the honorary coach ranks. Dr. Pattison grew up going to the tournament with his dad and for nearly 40 years has in some fashion been involved in one of Kansas City's greatest traditions.

"The honorary coach program is an amazing opportunity to be a part of all the good things going on in college athletics. Being part of a the team experience for the last 27 years allows us to meet so many great young men that not only excel on the basketball court but also outside competition," said Mary Pattison. "We have seen many examples of great coach and player relationships and character values in sport and are proud to be a part the NAIA championship experience."

The Pattisons are paired with No. 4 seed Concordia (Calif.) and will meet Lee (Tenn.) and honorary co-coaches Lew's Bar and Grill and Block and Co. on Thursday, March 15 at 12:30 p.m. CT.

Making its sixth appearance in the tournament is Seridan Frozen Custard who is matched with No. 1 seed Robert Morris (Ill.). Sheridan Frozen Custard and the Eagles will tip-off against honorary coach the Majestic Steakhouse and Westmont (Calif.) at 12:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 14.

Honorary coach UMB Financial Corporation and McKendree (Ill.) enter the tournament 22-11 and match-up against No. 6 seed Mountain State (W. Va.) and Midwest Terminal on Thursday, March 15 with tip-off scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CT. Tournament team hotel the Kansas City Marriott will sit courtside with No. 3 seed Georgetown (Ky.) and meet Xavier (La.) and honorary co-coaches Fellowship of

Christian Athletes and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. M&I Bank drew No. 8 seed Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) and will meet Kissick Construction and Jarvis Christian (Texas) in first round competition. NAIA media partner 610 Sports brings its game as an honorary coach to Wiley out of Texas. 610 Sports meets Liston Insurance Inc. and No. 2 seed Oklahoma City. No. 7 seed Park, whose home base is just minutes from Municipal, is teamed up with KC Sign Pro. The Pirates will meet honorary coach Team Office and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) on opening day of the tournament with tip-off at 6:15 p.m. CT.

There are numerous stories regarding NAIA honorary coaches. Just like the history the tournament brings to Kansas City and Municipal Auditorium, the honorary coach program allows individuals and companies to create a history of their own while embracing the true spirit of competition.

Follow the honorary coaches and teams at the 2007 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship on www.naia.org. To learn more about tournament special events, tickets and game times visit www.naiahoopskc.org