March 14, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The annual Honorary Coach event and draw, which has become a staple of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), was held at the Screenland Theatre last night. Area business and community leaders, selected from a pool of 32 teams, were paired for the 71st Annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's National Championship. The tournament tips off Wednesday March 19, and runs through Tuesday, March 25 at the historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City. 610 Sports radio personality Chris Hamblin emceed the event and The Majestic Steakhouse catered the pre-tournament festivities.

 

The Honorary Coach program is an exciting experience that allows recipients the opportunity to enjoy the tournament alongside the coaches and players whom they are paired with. They sit on the bench, attend meetings and live out the hopes and dreams of their team battling to win five games in six days in what is known as college basketball's toughest tournament.

 

Many Honorary Coaches have developed lasting relationships with the teams, coaches and schools they have been partnered with throughout the years. Just like the history the NAIA 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. Reigning Honorary Coach Champion Dan Liston of Liston Insurance has been attending the tournament since the 1960's and is hoping to be a part of a fourth NAIA title.

 

"The NAIA tournament is an event I have circled on my calendar year after year," Liston said. "This will be the 28th time I have been an Honorary Coach and it is an experience like no other. The teams take you in and adopt you as if you are one of their own. This is the thing to do in March, it is simply a blast."

 

Liston is partnered with No. 3 seeded Lambuth (Tenn.) who squares off against St. Xavier (Ill.) and Honorary Coach Missouri Bank on Thursday, March 20th at 10:45 a.m. CT.

 

Dr. Phil and Mary Pattison also enter their 28th year as Honorary Coaches. Dr. Pattison grew up going to the tournament and has been involved in the NAIA event in some fashion for nearly 55 years. The Pattison's will join No. 6 seeded Concordia (Calif.) for the second straight year and meet Campbellsville (Ky.) and Honorary Coach Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association at 2:15 p.m. CT.

 

"The tournament has become a sort of reunion for us," Pattison said. "Everyone involved from the players, coaches, fans, volunteers and NAIA staff has become one big family to us. I guarantee this will be another great event."

 

Fans can follow the honorary coaches and teams at the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at www.naia.org. To learn more about tournament special events, tickets and game times visit www.naiahoops.com.

Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) - Sign Pro of Kansas City

Azusa Pacific (Calif.) - Unisource

California Baptist - Kansas City Marriott- Downtown

Campbellsville (Ky.) - Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association

Carroll (Mont.) - Sir Speedy Olathe

Columbia (Mo.) - Kansas Gas Service

Concordia (Calif.) - Dr. Phil and Mary Pattison

Cumberland (Tenn.) - BOTT Radio Network

Cumberlands (Ky.) - Pretech Corp.

Emmanuel (Ga.) - DST Systems

Georgetown (Tenn.) - Bank of Blue Valley

Lambuth (Tenn.) - Liston Insurance, Inc.

Langston (Okla.) - Sports Radio 810 WHB

Lee (Tenn.) - Dos Hombres

Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) - M.B. Group, LLC

LSU- Shreveport- Buffalo Funds

Martin Methodist (Tenn.) - 610 Sports

McKendree (Ill.) - UMB Financial Corp.

Mobile (Ala.) - Block and Company

Mountain State (W.V.) - Commercial Claims Inc.

Oklahoma Baptist- Welch, Martin & Albano LLC & Sturdevant Law Office

Oklahoma City- Kansas City Life Insurance Company

Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) - Team Office

Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) - The Majestic Steakhouse

Robert Morris (Ill.) - Student Suites

Science & Arts (Okla.) - Tony Guy- State Farm Agent

Southern Nazarene (Okla.) - Polsinelli, Shalton, Flanigan, Suelthaus PC

St. Xavier (Ill.) - Missouri Bank

Texas Wesleyan- Kissick Construction

Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) - Masters Transportation

Wayland Baptist (Texas) - M & I Bank

Xavier (La.) - Fellowship of Christian Athletes