UC Irvine News Brief: NBA coach and ex-Anteater Scott Brooks aids Athletics fundraiser
He hosts Sept. 21 golf invitational at Irvine’s Oak Creek Golf Club to raise money for UCI scholarships.
Former UCI standout basketball player Scott Brooks (pictured, center), now head coach of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, returned Sept. 21 to lend his support to UCI Athletics, hosting the UCI/Scott Brooks Golf Invitational. The event, presented by Irvine BMW at the Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, raises funds for athletic scholarships at the university. Brooks took photos with each foursome; mixed with UCI coaches, student-athletes and alumni; and, at an evening reception, delivered a captivating talk about his experiences as a student-athlete, professional basketball player and coach. “If people hadn’t helped the program when I played at UCI, there wouldn’t have been the scholarship money to provide opportunities for student-athletes,” said Brooks, who was named NBA Coach of the Year for 2009-10. “UCI gave me a start and put me in the position to be successful, and I’ve always wanted a chance to give back.”