Each year, the Austin Spurs put on their pink jerseys to support Susan G. Komen Austin for PINK night. We at Susan G. Komen Austin are proud and excited to be associated with such great advocates.
We had the chance to catch up with Coach Ken McDonald to ask him a few questions about coaching and why he supports our cause here at Susan G. Komen Austin.
Coach Ken McDonald has been coaching the Austin Spurs for four seasons.
1. You’ve been coaching the Austin Spurs for a few seasons. What is the best part of coaching this team?
Watching our players develop and having opportunities to advance their careers – whether it be NBA call-ups or overseas opportunities.
2. From your experience so far, what has been your favorite part of PINK night in previous years?
I have several pink ties, so it gives me an excuse to wear one. ☺
“It’s a great team effort to raise awareness and we look forward to it every year.”
– Austin Spurs Head Coach Ken McDonald
3. What makes you passionate about supporting Susan G. Komen Austin?
This is a cause that is dear to my heart. I understand the importance of this fight having a mother that beat breast cancer before succumbing to lung cancer. It’s a great reminder to all of us how precious our time is.
4. When did you become involved in advocating for breast cancer awareness?
Since college I’ve become so much more aware of how many people are affected by this deadly disease. Fortunately, my mom was able to battle against this horrible disease, but I remember all those who unfortunately have not. My heart goes out to all of those families.
Survivors and Forever Fighters line the court at the 2015 PINK Night recognition ceremony.
5. On a scale from 1 to 10, how excited are you and your players to wear pink on PINK night?It’s a great night for our team and staff as we all dress in pink (team jerseys and all!). It’s a great team effort to raise awareness and we look forward to it every year.
Ken McDonald is entering his fourth season as head coach with the Austin Spurs. He served as an assistant coach during the 2012-13 season with the Toros, helping lead the team to a 27-23 overall record and to the semifinals of the 2013 NBA D-League Playoffs. McDonald has also served as head coach at Western Kentucky University (2008-11), where he led the team to the Sun Belt Regular Season Championship and Sun Belt Tournament Championship (2009). McDonald spent four seasons (2008-2012) as an assistant coach at the University of Texas under Head Coach Rick Barnes, who he has considered his mentor during his coaching career. In addition to guiding the Longhorns to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, he also helped the team reach a 106-35 (.752) record throughout the four seasons he was with the team, which is still ranked as the most victories in a four-year period in school history. McDonald has also served as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia (2003-04), Western Kentucky University (1998-2003) and Clemson University (1994-98). He graduated from Providence College, where he played shooting guard (1991-92), before playing professionally for the St. Paul Revelles in Ireland (1993-94). While playing at the Community College of Rhode Island (1989-90) prior to transferring to Providence, McDonald was a first-team Junior College All-American and set school records for single-season scoring (754 points) and 3-pointers made in a game (9) and season (109). McDonald was born and raised in Providence, R.I. He has one daughter, Ella, who was born in 2008.
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