The National Association of Basketball Coaches honored IUPUI men’s basketball coach Ron Hunter for his work with Samaritan’s Feet. Hunter, who first coached barefoot in January 2008 to bring attention to world poverty, received the Guardians of the Game Pillar Award for Service.

Past winners of the award include Dave Rose (Brigham Young), Richard Reed (Sacramento State) and Bo Ryan (Wisconsin).  The award honors coaches who serve as community leaders, helping to enhance their communities through civic involvement.

Hunter, who called on other coaches to coach barefoot in January 2009, went to Peru last summer with several student-athletes to donate shoes to those in need. Throughout the 2008-09 season, Hunter and other coaches collected shoes for children and distributed them during the Final Four in Detroit.