Charlotte, NC – Samaritan's Feet International proudly announces that Joe Kittell, Head Men's Basketball Coach for the University of Mary, has been selected as the 2017 "Barefoot Coach of the Year." Kittell will be presented with the award at the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 1 at the Phoenix Convention Center West Ballroom (100 N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004) surrounding the NCAA Men's Final Four Championship. Coach Kittell has coached four games barefoot during the past four basketball seasons and is the first NCAA Division II coach to receive this award.
 
In addition to coaching barefoot, Coach Kittell has organized and led efforts at three shoe distributions which impacted over 800 children in the Devils Lake, ND, and Bismarck, ND, areas. Along with his individual efforts, Coach Kittell and his staff at the University of Mary served with Samaritan's Feet at the Men's Final Four in 2016.
 
"I sincerely want to thank everyone at Samaritan's Feet for this award and allowing my team and myself to play a role in such a great cause," Kittell said. "I want to thank the University of Mary for allowing me to use my platform to continue to be a Barefoot Coach, and my wife Emily, our team, the University of Mary's Athletics Department, and all the volunteers who have helped make our shoe distributions a success. I am truly humbled to win this award."
 
Coach Kittell has demonstrated the fives pillars of being a barefoot coach: giving a voice to the voiceless, creating awareness for Samaritan's Feet, providing shoes to impoverished children, enhancing the image for coaches, schools, athletes, and the NCAA through courageous efforts, and providing multiple opportunities to engage people in a life of service.
 
The 21st annual Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast will be hosted by Chris Broussard, Sports Analyst for Fox Sports 1. The Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast recognizes the importance of leadership, character and integrity, and honors heroes in the world of sports.
 
Previous Barefoot Coaches of the Year include Brian Jones, University of North Dakota (2016); Jeff Jones, Old Dominion University (2015); Saul Phillips, Ohio (2014); John Calipari, University of Kentucky (2013); Scott Nagy, Wright State University (2012); Brad Stevens, previously of Butler University (2011); William Knopf, Glenforest School (2010); and Ron Hunter, Georgia State University (2009).
 
About Samaritan's Feet International
Samaritan's Feet is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian aid organization that shares a message of hope and love through washing the feet of impoverished children around the world and adorning them with new shoes. There are an estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide living in poverty and more than 1.5 billion who suffer from foot borne diseases. The goal of Samaritan's Feet is to create a world with zero shoeless children. Since its founding by Manny Ohonme in 2003, Samaritan's Feet and its team of ambassadors and partners have blessed more than 6.5 million children in more than 85 nations. For more information about Samaritan's Feet International, visit www.SamaritansFeet.org.
 
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