The Coach Woodson Las Vegas Invitational

Profile

Mike Woodson

Kicking off NBA Summer League in style at Southern Highlands Golf and Country Club

Story by Seema Sadekar

There is much more to NBA legend Coach Michael Woodson than meets the eye. He is a man of accountability, sportsmanship, willingness to help others; he supports worthy causes, and is a true advocate for player and personal development.

A little over a year ago, he founded The Coach Woodson Las Vegas Invitational (CWLVI) as a way to provide a unique summer experience for basketball coaches, players and enthusiasts. The three-day luxury Las Vegas event brings Coach Woodson’s friends, family and colleagues together for a fun weekend in support of Nations of Coaches, an organization dedicated to bringing coaches together through guidance and knowledge.

The Venetian® Las Vegas will host the 2015 CWLVI. The famed Las Vegas resort is a premier destination for travel, providing unparalleled service, a luxurious atmosphere, and a dynamic resort experience for Coach Woodson’s star-studded affair.

We are incredibly excited to host the Coach Woodson Las Vegas Invitational,” says Matthew Kenagy, Executive Director of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances for The Venetian and The Palazzo. “We look forward to inviting all of Coach Woodson’s guests to our resorts while giving fans opportunities to interact with some of their favorite celebrities and athletes.”

The CWLVI will kick off on Saturday, July 11 with an educational basketball youth experience and clinic presented by COX Communications that will provide junior participants with hands-on coaching experience from the esteemed Coach Woodson and former NBA Stars Eddie Johnson, Byron Scott, Reggie Theus, Jerome Williams and other notables.

On Saturday, July 11, VIP guests are invited to attend the Woodson Jacket Welcome Reception at the Paiza Lounge presented by Zacapa Rum at The Venetian. On Sunday, July 12, Woodson host a Celebrity Skins Game presented by Casamigos Tequila at Southern Highlands Golf Club followed by The Woodson Gala, Red Carpet and Pairings Party at LAVO, inside The Palazzo® Las Vegas.

Woodson grew up in Indiana, playing collegiate basketball under coach Bob Knight at Indiana University. During Woodson’s junior year, he was the leading scorer on the Hoosier team that went on to win the 1979 NIT Tournament. In 1980, the Hoosiers were led by Woodson to advance and win the Big Ten championship, bringing the team to the 1980 Sweet Sixteen.

Woodson continued on to the professional circuit, where he was selected 12th overall by the New York Knicks in the 1980 NBA Draft and played in the league for 11 impactful years. After serving as an assistant coach to the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Woodson assisted the Detroit Pistons in winning the 2004 NBA Championship under Head Coach Larry Brown.

Thereafter, Woodson took over as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks for five seasons during his tenure, guiding the Hawks to the NBA Playoffs in each of his last three seasons and into the Eastern Conference Semifinals in his last two seasons. Woodson’s 206 career wins are fourth best in Hawks franchise history.

In 2011, the New York Knicks announced Woodson as an assistant coach and later, interim head coach. Woodson was named the full-time head coach of the Knicks for the 2012-13 season, during which the Knicks compiled a record of 54-28 and secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Currently, Coach Woodson is an Assistant Coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.

“This event provides the unique opportunity to bring together golf and basketball in a way that is fun and meaningful, benefitting Nations of Coaches, a charity that is important to me,” says Woodson. “The goal of Nations of Coaches is to help create better coaches and leaders for the next generation, and I’m honored to support them and to host this event for the second year. If we can top last year’s event that would be incredible.”

2015 HOSTS

Jay Harris

ESPN Sports Center Announcer

@JayHarrisESPN

During last year’s Woodson Invitational, Jay Harris hit the hole-in-one heard around the country, winning himself a Range Rover presented by Land Rover Las Vegas. “I’m looking forward to again co-hosting the CWLVI event this year. I can’t wait for the golf portion. I see another hole in one in my future.”

Seema Sadekar

Golf Fashionista & Professional Golfer Seema Sadekar

@TheSeemaSadekar

Seema Sadekar is Las Vegas’ own golf beauty and she continues to bring golf forward with fashion and fun. “CWLVI gets better and better every year! I look forward to co-hosting again, alongside Jay Harris and Erik Griffin. I am especially excited to have tee-times at Southern Highlands Golf Club so we can watch Coach Woodson shine, coming up the 18^th hole with all his family, friends and fans cheering!”

Erik Griffin

Actor and Comedian

@ErikGriffin

Erik Griffin is an actor and comedian on Comedy Central’s popular show Workaholics and a diehard Clippers fan. “I look forward to co-hosting this year. It means a lot to me because I am a fan of the Clippers and respect Coach Woodson a great deal. I am going to start working on my golf game to prepare for a great week in Las Vegas.”

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, July 10

Woodson Basketball Youth Experience presented by COX Communications at Impact Basketball

Saturday, July 11

Celebrity, Sponsor and Jacket Holder Arrivals

7 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Woodson Jacket Reception at Paiza Lounge, Venetian

Sunday, July 12

9 a.m. to noon - Woodson Gifting Suite at Palazzo

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - VIP Celebrity Skins Game at Southern Highlands

Noon to 2 p.m. - Welcome Champagne Brunch with Terri at LAVO Lounge

7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Red Carpet and Private Pairings Party at LAVO Lounge

10:30 p.m. - Woodson Cigar Lounge and Terri’s Martini Lounge at Palazzo