Coaches 4 Change launched to help student-athletes, campuses and communities
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech Athletics is committed to providing its student-athletes, staff and alumni of color avenues to promote change in a climate of racial and social injustice. One step towards that change comes by way of assistant men's basketball Marcus King, who has joined forces with numerous members of the men's basketball community to help launch Coaches 4 Change (C4C).
By Coaches 4 Change and TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech Athletics is committed to providing its student-athletes, staff and alumni of color avenues to promote change in a climate of racial and social injustice. One step towards that change comes by way of assistant men's basketball Marcus King, who has joined forces with numerous members of the men's basketball community to help launch Coaches 4 Change (C4C).
Coaches 4 Change (C4C) is an organization that is founded by college basketball coaches who are dedicated to help their student-athletes, their campus, and their communities. The mission of C4C is to provide a platform that engages, educates, empowers, and evolves the collegiate student-athlete on issues of social injustices, systemic racism, and the power of voting in the endless pursuit of equality.
"Knowledge is the foundation of change," King said. "College basketball is the perfect catalyst to increase awareness. With the C4C platform, I look forward to contributing to the change of America. The diversity of C4C combined with the experiences of each member of C4C will provide a resource for practitioners of social justice."
The 4 Pillars of C4C are to:
- ENGAGE fellow coaches & student-athletes within their campus & local communities. To raise awareness and involvement in the endless pursuit for equality through voter registration.
- EDUCATE fellow coaches & student-athletes with historical information pertaining to systemic racism, social injustice, police brutality, and significant events that have shaped our country.
- EMPOWER fellow coaches & student-athletes to inspire change through the power of voting.
- EVOLVE the minds of fellow coaches & student-athletes to help foster positive changes within their collegiate and local communities surrounding the issues of racism & social injustice.
The C4C pillars will serve as the 4 foundational elements that will guide our endless pursuit of EQUALITY. For more information, please visit www.coaches4change.org or on social media @Coaches4Change.
The C4C committee includes (in alphabetical order by first name):
Adam Hood (UTSA | C-USA), Alex Mumphard (Cornell | IVY) Alvin Brooks III (Baylor | Big XII), Amir Abdur-Rahim (Kennesaw State | ASUN), Andy Farrell (Dayton | A10), Anthony Goins (Clemson | ACC), Antoni Wyche (Siena | MAAC), Antonio Reynolds-Dean (Clemson | ACC), Bobby Steinburg (Kent State | MAC), Brandon Chambers (Texas Southern | SWAC), Brian Earl (Cornell | Ivy), Brian Eskildsen (Harvard | Ivy), Brian Merritt (Morgan State | MEAC), Carmen Maciariello (Siena | MAAC), Cliff Warren (Georgia State | Sun Belt), Cody Toppert (Memphis | AAC), Curtis Wilson (Boston University | Patriot), Darris Nichols (Florida | SEC), Dedrique Taylor (Cal State Fullerton | Big West), DeMarlo Slocum (UNLV | Mountain West), Donovan Williams (Longwood | Big South), Eric Haut (Northern Kentucky | Horizon), Gerry McNamara (Syracuse | ACC), Hamlet Tibbs (Vermont | America East), Josh Sash (North Dakota State| Summit League), Kareem Richardson (Indiana State | MVC), Kyle Steinway (Sacred Heart | NEC), Louis Orr (Georgetown | Big East), Lucas McKay (UMKC | Summit League), Marcus King (Tennessee Tech | OVC), Martin Bahar (San Diego | WCC), Matt Miner (Siena | MAAC), Mike Mennenga (Oregon | Pac 12), Omar Lowery (Butler | Big East), Russ Willemsen (Tennessee State | OVC), Rasheen Davis, Rob O'Driscoll (Drexel | CAA), Ryan Devlin (George Washington | A10), Ryan Pedon (Ohio State | Big 10), Terrence Rencher (Creighton | Big East), Tommy Strine (Lamar | Southland), Trey Montgomery (Penn. | Ivy) , and Vince Walden (Texas A&M | SEC).
