IUPUI basketball coach Hunter again helps Samaritan's Feet charity

IUPUI's Hunter builds on his effort in 2nd year supporting shoe charity

By Jeff Rabjohns
jeff.rabjohns@indystar.com

Ron Hunter exhorted his team. He stomped. He even got a technical foul for stepping too far onto the court while disputing an official's call.

For the second year in a row, the IUPUI men's basketball coach did it all barefoot to raise awareness for Samaritan's Feet, a charity that aims to raise 10 million pairs of shoes in a 10-year span for children living in poverty around the world.

Hunter, who was named a Person of the Year for 2008 by ABC News for his efforts, said his goal is to raise 1 million pairs of shoes this weekend.

"When I go to bed tonight, I know a million children in this world will be getting their first pair of shoes, and I know the hope that's going to give them," Hunter said after IUPUI's 58-56 loss to Centenary on a basket at the buzzer.

"I didn't win a basketball game, but we probably won some souls and won some fans we don't even know about. From the generosity of people around this state and this country, a million kids are going to be happy."

This time, Hunter knows firsthand the impact of his efforts.

Over the summer, he took thousands of donated shoes to Peru. Instead of simply making deliveries at various locations, Hunter, his assistants and several players washed children's feet, then fitted them with shoes.

"It changed our lives," Hunter said earlier this week. "What I never really realized is this: A pair of shoes is a mode of transportation to those kids. They don't just get on a bus or get in a car to go somewhere.

"So for us to deliver them shoes, it brings them hope. You see them smile and see their faces light up and that sticks with you. I can tell you that we'll never forget that."

IUPUI assistant coaches Todd Howard, Matt Crenshaw and Austin Parkinson also were barefoot for Saturday's game. Members of IUPUI's student section stood and cheered barefoot the entire game. Jaguars radio voice Greg Rakestraw broadcast the game barefoot.

Before tipoff, Centenary coach Greg Gary joined the cause, walking to his bench without shoes.

Four members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performed the national anthem barefoot in front of a full house at The Jungle on a night labeled "Barefoot For a Cause."

IUPUI women's basketball coach Shann Hart coached barefoot in her team's 65-53 victory over Centenary on Saturday afternoon. A shoe collection bin in the concourse outside the gymnasium was overflowing with donations before tipoff of the men's game.

Earlier in the day, Butler's Brad Stevens and Illinois-Chicago's Jimmy Collins both coached barefoot in the Bulldogs' 59-52 victory in Chicago. Butler's assistants and trainer Ryan Galloy went barefoot for the game televised on ESPN2.

Stevens said the gesture is typical of college basketball coaches.

"It's one of the most giving groups of people you've ever been around," he said. "They care about people. They're talking about 'team' all the time. It's kind of what our livelihood is.

"The chance to serve somebody else is certainly meaningful. Whatever we can do to raise awareness on a small platform is worth it."

Before this season, Hunter challenged his coaching colleagues to join the effort. Twenty-six of them either coached barefoot over the weekend or plan to do so this week, according to samaritansfeet.org. Among them are Detroit and former Indiana University assistant Ray McCallum, Benny Moss of North Carolina-Wilmington, Missouri-Kansas City's Matt Brown and Scott Nagy of South Dakota State.

The movement has gone national, with high school and youth coaches from California and Arizona to Pennsylvania and North Carolina going barefoot for a game.

Indiana State coach Kevin McKenna said he will coach barefoot Wednesday against Southern Illinois.

"This is a great cause to get involved with," McKenna said earlier in the week. "There are a lot of things in life we take for granted, like having a pair of shoes on our feet, but there are millions of people less fortunate in this world than we are."

Call Star reporter Jeff Rabjohns at (317) 444-6183.