McDonald's All-American Game coaches unveiled

McDONALD’S® ANNOUNCES HEAD COACHES FOR 2012 ALL AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAMES IN CHICAGO

Chicagoland, Kentucky, South Carolina Head Coaches to Lead Nation’s Premier High School Basketball Event

CHICAGO, Ill. (Feb. 23, 2012) – Today, the McDonald’s All American® Games announced its four prep coaches from Chicagoland, Kentucky and South Carolina to lead the top high school talent in the country during the 2012 McDonald’s All American Games on Wednesday, March 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.

Tanya Johnson of Zion-Benton High School in Zion, Ill. will lead the Girls West team, while Anne Long of Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C. will coach the Girls East team. Gordon Kerkman of Aurora West High School in Aurora, Ill. will lead the Boys West and Billy Hicks of Scott County High School in Georgetown, Ky. will serve as head coach of the Boys East team.

“The four standout coaches selected to lead the 2012 McDonald’s All American Games have won a total of 11 state championships and combine for more than 2,900 wins and 132 years of head-coaching experience,” said Douglas Freeland, director of the McDonald’s All American Games. “We’re delighted that some of the best high school basketball coaches from across the country will be on the sideline in Chicago this year.”

The 11th Annual Girls Game will begin at 6:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPNU, followed by the 35th Anniversary Boys Game at 8:30 p.m. CT which will air live on ESPN. Tickets to the Games can be purchased via Ticketmaster, charge-by-phone at 1-866-909-GAME and at the United Center box office. Free United Center parking is included with all ticket purchases. Proceeds from the 2012 McDonald’s All American Games will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI). Funds raised will help to build the nation’s largest Ronald McDonald House®, located in downtown Chicago.

2012 McDonald’s All American Head Coach Bios

Tanya Johnson (Girls West) is currently in her 28th season as a head coach and third season as head coach at Zion-Benton High School. She has compiled a record of 634-191 while claiming two IHSA Class AA State Championships (1997 and 1998), seven Sectional Championships and 17 Regional Championships. Johnson is a member of three Hall of Fames including the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA), and has twice been named the IBCA Coach of the Year (1997, 1998). Coach Johnson was also named the 2011 IHSA Coach of the Year after leading Zion-Benton to the state championship game and finishing runner-up. Joining her on the sideline as assistants will be Mary Just (Loyola Academy, Ill.) and Ellen O’Brian (Downers Grove South High School, Ill).

Anne Long (Girls East) has 36 years of coaching experience and is currently in her fourth season as head coach for the Spring Valley Lady Vikings. She has a career record of 758-183 and has guided her teams to 11 State Championship Games, emerging victorious in six (1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 2009 and 2011). A seven-time South Carolina State Coach of the Year, Long has helped produce more than 100 college basketball players including current McDonald’s All American, Xylina McDaniel. Following her most recent State Championship in 2011, Coach Long was inducted into the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Joining Long on the sideline will be her current assistants Doretha Garland and Gregory Bauldrick.