HOFSTRA'S PECORA TO PARTICIPATE IN OPERATION HARDWOOD
Hempstead, NY (July 31) - Hofstra Men’s Basketball coach Tom Pecora will soon travel to the Persian Gulf and visit troops as part of the fifth installment of “Operation Hardwood,” a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour featuring a week-long basketball tournament and championship game with some of the best military players stationed overseas.
Pecora will be one of six active coaches who are participating in the event. He will joined by Metropolitan New York colleague Barry Rohrssen of Manhattan College, as well as DePaul University’s Jerry Wainwright, formerly of CAA rival UNC Wilmington. Jeff Jones of American University, Brian Gregory of the University of Dayton and Tom Schuberth of the University of Texas-Pan American will also be on the tour, along with Reggie Minton, the deputy director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (and former head coach at Air Force) and Fran Fraschilla of ESPN (formerly the head coach at Manhattan, St. John’s and New Mexico). Equipment and uniforms for this tour are being provided by NIKE.
"I'm very honored to be asked to take part in Operation Hardwood and get the chance to give something back to the young men and women who are putting their lives on the line for this country,” said Pecora, who is entering his eighth season as the Hofstra Men’s Basketball coach. “It is truly a privilege. I am making this trip with the total support of my family, friends and university.”
“Operation Hardwood V” will kick off in Washington, D.C., where the group will visit and shake hands with wounded service members receiving care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. Following their visit to the District, the coaches and sports personalities will journey overseas to spend time with troops, tour military vessels, pose for pictures and sign autographs.
Created to boost morale and bring a touch of home to those in uniform, the “Operation Hardwood” series has toured with the USO since 2005. Continuing with its mission of bringing sports figures and sports-related events to troops overseas, “Operation Hardwood” has deployed more than 35 NCAA basketball coaches and sports personalities to Kuwait and Japan.
Celebrities selflessly lend their time to the USO, visiting and entertaining service members stationed around the world. Whether signing autographs, leading clinics, performing free concerts or talking to military schoolchildren, they help service members and their families feel a little closer to home. Celebrities who recently participated in USO tours include Roger Goodell, Drew Brees, Osi Umenyiora, Milo Ventimiglia, Jack Lengyel and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
AT&T, Inc., is the official telecommunications sponsor of USO entertainment tours. For a list of USO tours, visit www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment. To learn more about the USO or to find out how to support the troops, visit www.uso.org.