After a record-setting first year, the Hampton Roads event returns September 18 with Geno Auriemma, Ryan Odom, and a stacked lineup of legends

On this episode of The Monarchists Podcast, Mike and Aaron step away from wins and losses for a cause. Former Old Dominion men's basketball coach Jeff Jones and Coaches vs Cancer Legends Gala executive committee member Russell Turner join the show to preview this year's gala — and to explain why, for both of them, this event is personal.

Last year's inaugural gala set a goal of $250,000 and blew past it, raising over $414,000 for the American Cancer Society — the highest-earning first-year Coaches vs Cancer event in the organization's history. This year, the goal is simple: do it again, bigger.

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A Legends-Filled Lineup for 2026

This year's featured speakers are Ryan Odom, head coach at the University of Virginia,  Geno Auriemma, and Dave Odom, Ryan's father, the former Wake Forest and South Carolina head coach and a cancer survivor himself. Joining them on stage, Seth Greenberg returns to the Ted (now Chartway) emcee, and the program has been streamlined after running long in year one.

The guest list doesn't stop there. Phil Martelli — whose friendship with Geno Auriemma helped land him for this year's gala — returns, along with Ralph Sampson, Michael Cuddyer, NBA official Tony Brothers, UVA Hall of Fame women's basketball coach Debbie Ryan (a pancreatic cancer survivor), and ODU basketball alum and cancer survivor Dave Twardzik.

Why Jeff Jones Started the Gala

Jeff Jones was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and later made the decision, alongside his wife Danielle, to go public with his fight — driven in part by the financial barriers he saw other patients face. As he neared retirement from coaching, he wanted to build something in Hampton Roads modeled after what other coaches around the country — Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams, Lon Kruger, Brad Underwood — had done in their own communities. That idea became the Legends Gala.

"This is our event. This is not my event. This is not Russ's event. This is not ODU's event. This is our event, and we can make a difference in the fight against cancer."

Russell Turner's "Why"

For Russell Turner, the cause is deeply personal. His wife was diagnosed with an aggressive, rare form of cancer in late 2008 and passed away in January 2010. Her mother also died of cancer, and with a strong hereditary link in the family, Turner and his daughters have since gone through genetic testing. At the committee's first meeting, he asked everyone around the table a simple question that's become the gala's guiding message.

"Tell me your why. What is your why? Why are you here?"

Turner also pointed to the scale of the need locally — organizers estimate more than 50,000 people in Hampton Roads will be diagnosed with cancer in 2026, with over 20,000 related deaths in the region.

A $195,000 Paddle Raise — and a Sequel in the Works

The defining moment of last year's gala was a live paddle raise for pediatric cancer resources tied to a young patient's story. What started slowly at a $50,000 ask snowballed into $195,000 raised in about ten minutes. Jeff and Russ confirmed there's another emotional moment planned for this year's program, including a young speaker they're keeping under wraps for now.

How to Get Involved

Tables of eight are $5,000, with a limited number remaining. One-time and monthly donations are also welcome, along with in-kind auction donations (vacation homes, restaurant gift cards, and similar items). The organizers are still seeking a presenting sponsor for 2026. Everything is tax-deductible.

To learn more about the event, visit hamptonroads.acsgala.org. To purchase a table or make a donation, visit https://hamptonroads.acsgala.org/tables-donations/.

If you're interested in being the Presenting Sponsor, lease contact Laura Fien, American Cancer Society Staff Partner, at laura.fien@cancer.org.

And if you can't attend or give, Mike's ask was simple: share the event with friends and family to help spread the word.

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🎤 In This Episode

✓ A recap of last year's record-setting inaugural gala
✓ This year's featured speakers: Geno Auriemma, Ryan Odom, Dave Odom, and MC Seth Greenberg
✓ The legends attending: Phil Martelli, Ralph Sampson, Michael Cuddyer, Tony Brothers, Debbie Ryan, Dave Twardzik
✓ Jeff Jones' personal cancer journey and why he started the gala
✓ Russell Turner's family story and the meaning behind "your why"
✓ The $195,000 paddle raise moment from year one
✓ How to buy a table, sponsor, or donate for September 18

Join the Fight Against Cancer

The 2026 Coaches vs Cancer Legends Gala takes place September 18 in Hampton Roads. Purchase a table, explore sponsorship opportunities, or make a donation at hamptonroads.acsgala.org.

➤ Visit hamptonroads.acsgala.org to buy a table or donate
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