The 2016 Brayden Carr Foundation will hold its inaugural Rhode Island Coaches Clinic on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.

The Sept. 16 clinic features four outstanding coaches from the collegiate and professional levels of the game:  Rhode Island head coach Dan Hurley, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, Yale head coach James Jones, and former UConn head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun.

Hurley is entering his fifth year at the helm of the Rams and has his program positioned among the preseason top 25 rankings of every major national media outlet.  He has a proven track record of successfully rebuilding college basketball programs.  While at the helm of Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., he orchestrated one of college basketball’s biggest one-year improvements – going from 13 wins to a school record 25 victories from 2010-12.  At URI, he guided the Rams to a +15 win improvement over his first three seasons including a 23-win campaign and a second place finish in the Atlantic 10 in 2014-15.

Stevens became the 17th head coach in the history of the Boston Celtics franchise in July, 2013, and has guided the Celtics to consecutive NBA Playoff appearances.  This past season, the C’s finished second in the Atlantic Division and was the #5 seed in the Eastern Conference.  Prior to joining the Celtics, Stevens, 39, spent six seasons as the head coach at Butler University, compiling a 166-49 record – including back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Championship game in 2010 and 2011.   He sits atop the NCAA record book for best starts by wins for coaches in three, four, five, and six years.

Jones led the Yale Bulldogs to the 2016 Ivy League Championship and the school’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 54 years.  Once there, the 14th seeded Elis put forth one of the most memorable games in the tournament, outlasting #3 seeded Baylor in the second round of action at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence.  A two-time Ivy League Coach of the Year, Jones holds the highest winning percentage in Yale basketball history.

Throughout his 40 seasons on the sidelines, Calhoun established himself as one of college basketball’s most successful head coaches.  He spent 26 years at the University of Connecticut, guiding the Huskies to three NCAA Championships (1999, 2004, 2011) and four trips to the Final Four.  Calhoun was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005 and finished his career with an overall mark of 873-380 – one of eight NCAA Division I coaches to reach the 800-win mark.  He averaged better than 24 wins per season and recorded 30 or more wins on eight occasions.

The clinic is open to all coaches. It will run from 10 a.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. with a pre-event registration from 8:45-10 a.m. and lunch will be provided from 12-12:30 p.m.  A $125.00 donation fee per coach is required and walk-up registration is accepted.  The first 200 individuals to register receive a gift of your choice and a URI Men’s Basketball ticket for an upcoming game (based on availability).

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE.  Interested coaches can register securely online via PayPal until 5 p.m. on Sept. 14.

“In Brayden’s Eyes, The Brayden Carr Foundation Inc.”, is a 501(c)(3) non- profit charitable organization established by Jim and Natalie Carr, parents of the late Brayden James Carr. Jim enters his fifth season as an assistant coach on Dan Hurley’s staff at the University of Rhode Island.  His wife, Natalie, is a former athletic trainer, coach, local teacher, and most importantly Brayden’s Mommy.

Brayden Carr was an adorable two and a half year old boy whose beautiful life was much too short. Brayden’s battle remains an inspiration to us and his courage and perseverance is a tribute to the human spirit. Out of horrific tragedy, in May, 2011, the Carr family dedicated their lives to honoring their son’s indomitable spirit and infectious enthusiasm for life through positive endeavors.

The foundation has a fully volunteer staff and 100% of the net proceeds go directly into the scholarship fund to help put smiles on many kids’ faces.  By way of service projects and fundraising ventures, they hope to provide athletic, social, rehabilitative, and academic opportunities to children with seizure conditions and their related physical needs, as well as provide humanitarian support/relief to their parents.

For additional information on the foundation and to register for the coaching clinic, please visit www.braydencarrfoundation.org.