This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/31/2005.
Founded in 1927 by legendary Kansas coach Phog Allen, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the group exists to this day as "Guardians of the Game." From its inception, the NABC has worked towards the furtherance of the best interests of the game of basketball, its coaches and players. They were instrumental in establishing the original Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in the creation of the NCAA Basketball Tournament Format. in conjunction with the American Cancer Society (ACS), they support the "Coaches vs. Cancer" program, founded in the mid-1990s, which to date has raised over $23 million in support of ACS's education, research and patient services programs. This gargantuan oil painting was done exclusively for the "Coaches vs. Cancer program and is one of a kind. Painted in the mid-1990s, several lithographs were produced from it but this the one and only original. Portraying a basketball court and arena on the top center, the painting is filled with 31 head and shoulder portraits of some of the greatest coaches in college basketball history. 28 of these legends have hand-signed the painting, in blue and black ink. Signatures include John Wooden (HOF), Jim Calhoun (HOF), Nolan Richardson, Dean Smith (HOF), Mike Jarvis, Steve Lavin, Bobby Knight (HOF), Mike Montgomery, Dave Odom, Mike Krzysewski (HOF), Norm Stewart, Gene Keady, John Thompson (HOF), Bob Higgins, Lute Olsen (HOF), Jim Boeheim (HOF), Lon Kruger, Bobby Cremins, Tubby Smith, Denny Crum (HOF), Pat Kennedy, John Chaney (HOF), Roy Williams, Eddie Fogler, Jerry Tarkanian, Pete Gillen, Rick Majerus and Bill Guthridge. The signatures grade an overall 9. Accompanied by a LOA from James Spence Authentication and another from Steiner Sports.