Join us for dinner, drinks, and an evening of motivational conversation with college coaching greats Cliff Ellis, Bobby Lutz, Donna Papa, and Tom Walter. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Gaston College Athletics Fund.

Cliff Ellis Former Basketball Head Coach of Coastal Carolina, spent 49 seasons as a collegiate head coach before retiring in 2023. He finished his career as the ninth-winningest coach NCAA Division I history. As a coach, Ellis captured eight conference regular season titles, two conference tournament crowns, six conference Coach of the Year honors, and an AP National Coach of the Year award. In additional to Coastal Carolina, Ellis also held head coach roles at Auburn, Clemson, South Alabama and Cumberland.

Bobby Lutz Former Basketball Head Coach of UNCC, is the winningest head coach in 49ers men's basketball history, leading them to eight postseason appearances (five NCAA and three NIT). While at UNCC he also earned Coach of the Year honors and was named a Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year finalist. Lutz was also head coach at Pfeiffer University and has held assistant coach positions with Clemson, Iowa State, NC State, the Windy City Bulls, and Nebraska.

Donna Papa Former Softball Head Coach of UNC, spent 38 of her 40-year head coaching career at Carolina and retired in 2023 as the second-winningest coach in NCAA softball history. As Carolina's coach, Papa made 15 NCAA tournament appearances and earned five ACC regular-season championships. She is also a five-time ACC Coach of the Year and was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012.

Tom Walter Baseball Head Coach of Wake Forest, is in his 15th season as head coach of Wake Forest Baseball. He was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2023 and sits as the second-winningest coach in program history. Walter guided the Demon Deacons to the program's third-ever Men's College World Series in 2023 in one of the team's greatest seasons in program history. Before joining Wake Forest, Walter held head coaching positions at New Orleans and George Washington.

Ticket includes: Dinner, Two drink tickets & Auction opportunities

Early Bird Rate: $100 Per individual ticket if purchased by Oct. 14, 2024

Regular Rate: $120 per individual ticket if purchased after Oct. 14, 2024

Table Rate: $750 per table (includes eight tickets)

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Gaston College Athletics Fund which is designated to ensure the successful growth of Gaston College athletes by providing scholarship opportunities and support throughout the academic year, as well as to meet the greatest needs of the Gaston College Athletic Department.