June 4, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame men’s basketball coach Mike Brey will be honored with the Ray Meyer Coach Award at the Ed Kelly Sports Foundation’s 40th annual Giant Awards dinner on Monday, June 30 at the White Eagle Banquet Hall in Niles, Ill.
The Ed Kelly Sports Program for forty years has honored individuals who have made significant professional and personal contributions to their respective communities. The program has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Chicago area charities and helped more than a quarter of a million children and adults participate in Ed Kelly Sports Program events.
To be the recipient of this award is a very special honor for Brey considering the ties Meyer had to Notre Dame. A 1938 graduate of the University, Meyer was a two-time captain as a guard for the Fighting Irish on the 1936-37 and 1937-38 squads.
“I’m very honored to be receiving this award,” says Brey, who will begin his 15th season along the Irish sidelines in 2014-15. “Coach Meyer had such a positive influence on the college basketball community and is one of our most-treasured coaching legends. I considered him a mentor and friend and I enjoyed the time we spent together when I was named coach at Notre Dame and he would come to football games and attend our basketball practices. He has had such an impact on my coaching career here at Notre Dame. It will be a truly special evening for me.”
Other honorees during the evening’s festivities will be the Chicago Blackhawks Coach Joel Quinneville, Eli’s Cheesecake owner Marc Shulman, Illinois State Senator John Cullerton, and businessmen Dominic DiFrisco, Tom Fitzgibbon Sr., and Luis Toledo.
Past recipients of the Ray Meyer Coach Award have included Dave Corzine, Ron Zook, Jimmy Collins, Doug Bruno, Johnny Kerr, Bill Carmody, Dallas Green and Gene Sullivan.
Tickets for the dinner are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 773-728-6300.