CoPeace Will Present Awards for Service and Advocacy

DENVER (March 28, 2023) – CoPeace, a diversified holding and services company that invests in growing companies demonstrating both positive measurable social and environmental impact and strong fiscal health, announced today a presenting sponsorship of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Guardians of the Game Awards for Service & Advocacy. The event will take place during the NABC Convention at the Men’s Basketball Final Four in Houston.

Fran Fraschilla ESPN college basketball analyst, is the recipient of the NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Advocacy Presented by CoPeace. Fraschilla has been a game and studio analyst at ESPN since 2003, where he primarily calls Big 12 men’s basketball contests in addition to supporting the network’s NBA Draft and international basketball coverage. Fraschilla routinely leverages his ESPN platform to amplify the leadership and off-court impact of coaches, and remains a valued mentor to numerous coaching colleagues. Before joining ESPN, Fraschilla won 175 games in nine seasons as the head coach at New Mexico, St. John’s and Manhattan.

Ken Dempsey, Associate Athletic Director for Team Support at the University of New Hampshire, is the recipient of the NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Service Presented by CoPeace. Prior to his current position, Dempsey was an assistant men’s basketball coach for 13 seasons at New Hampshire. He also held prior assistant coach roles at four different schools. Dempsey is currently chair of the NABC Division I Assistant Coaches Committee, which provides valuable feedback and assistant coach perspective to NABC advocacy and legislative efforts. He also sits on the NABC Division I Congress, and served on the NABC Executive Director search committee in 2020. Additionally, Dempsey is a member of the America East Spread Respect Advisory Group.
“NABC members make an impact and leave legacies that extend far beyond winning games,” said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. “This year’s NABC Guardians of the Game pillar award honorees live out the core values we all strive to uphold. I commend each of them for their positive influence on our sport and our society.”

“The NABC’s Guardians of the Game awards for Service and Advocacy align beautifully with CoPeace’s mission,” said CoPeace founder and CEO Craig Jonas. “Our CoPeace Sports subsidiary is always excited to work toward making the world a better place through sports. These awards honor those who are doing just that.”

The Guardians of the Game is a national awareness and education program of the NABC. The goal of the program is to focus attention on the positive aspects of basketball and the important role coaches play in the lives of student-athletes as well as positively impacting their communities.

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About CoPeace 

CoPeace helps impactful companies grow. As an impact-driven holding company, CoPeace is building a portfolio of carefully selected businesses with measurable social and environmental impact. Additionally, CoPeace provides a variety of consulting services to organizations demonstrating positive social or environmental impact.

As a fully certified B Corp and public-benefit corporation (PBC), CoPeace is committed to acting morally, ethically, and responsibly in regard to society and the environment. Equity, inclusion, and justice are not just valued at CoPeace – they are pillars supporting our mission.

To learn more, visit copeace.com. 

About NABC

Since its beginning, the NABC has continually worked to further the best interests of the game of basketball, as well as the players and coaches who participate in the sport. In doing so, the NABC has established the following goals and objectives to pursue its mission:

• To promote the ideals of integrity, sportsmanship and teamwork among basketball coaches and the players whom they coach;
• To unify coaches on issues pertaining to basketball at all levels;
• To provide member services which address the needs of the coach professionally, emotionally, financially, physically and spiritually;
• To encourage basketball coaches to serve as community outreach agents who elevate moral, ethical and educational values;
• To enlighten the general public, media, institutional educators and athletic administrators to the fact that coaches are good for the sport and the young people whom they serve;
• To work with the legislative arm of the NCAA and other governing bodies on issues that affect basketball and intercollegiate athletics.