Steve Lavin General Posed
USD Athletics

Steve Lavin is a Champion in the Fight vs. Cancer

SAN DIEGO — This week marks Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week, a 32-year collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that unites basketball coaches nationwide for a common cause: saving lives from cancer by promoting the importance of regular screening to help end the disease as we know it, for everyone. 

For University of San Diego men's basketball head coach Steve Lavin, the fight versus cancer has a more literal and personal significance. Not only has the fourth-year Torero headman had family members battle various forms of the disease, but he has too. Lavin had prostate cancer for parts of the 2011-2012 season, sidelining him from the sidelines for the vast majority of that year while head coach at St. John's.

I think there's a common thread that runs through cancer survivors and families that have lost loved ones to cancer. That is, a greater degree of empathy and compassion.

You look at the world, through a different lens. Your sensibilities are informed in a profound way. When you fight cancer and survived or lost loved ones as a result, of cancer.
Steve Lavin, San Diego Men's Basketball Head Coach

In fact, Lavin is a champion in the fight versus cancer. Beyond coming out on top in his own bout with the perilous disease, he has helped others in their fights too. 

Lavin has remained heavily involved in cancer research and early-detection awareness, before and after his own experience with the disease. Since 2010, he has raised more than $1.5 million for Coaches vs. Cancer and The V Foundation. He is a part of The V Foundation President's Club, in 2014 was awarded with the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award and in 2022, he was awarded the Michelle Carew Spirit Award by the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.  

Steve Lavin Coaches vs. Cancer Sign 4x5
Coaches often speak about 'health is wealth'. If you don't have your health, nothing else really matters. It definitely prioritizes, the more significant or important aspects of life and that idea of coming to a place where your sensibilities are informed about the mortality of loved ones and our own mortality, and that informs a really profound and powerful perspective, when it comes to compassion for others and also understanding just how fragile and tenuous the proposition of life is.

It's realizing that each day is precious — not taking anything for granted. I'm grateful to have navigated through cancer, and of course, I'm an advocate to fight for a cure.
Steve Lavin, San Diego Men's Basketball Head Coach

Lavin and his Toreros will take part in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week during their game against Oregon State on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 3 p.m. in the Jenny Craig Pavilion. 

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