TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State head coach Kevin McKenna is accustomed to making long recruiting trips to find new athletes for his basketball team.  This summer will be a bit different though, as McKenna will take one of his longest trips ever during his tenure as the Sycamore head coach and will coach the Athletes In Action collegiate basketball team during a tour of Poland and Germany.

McKenna has been involved with the Athletes In Action organization in the past and looks forward to the opportunity of coaching the team this year in Europe.

 “I’ve had a relationship with the Athletes in Action organization for several years now but this is my first opportunity to travel with them as a coach,” McKenna said.  “Two of our former players at Creighton, Dane Watts and Anthony Tolliver, went on tours with the AIA basketball program and through that I struck up a friendship with Mike Sigfrids who runs the summer tour program.  I’m a big believer in what they do during these tours and I look forward to the experience of working with our team of young men and teaching the game of basketball overseas through the clinics we will be hosting.”

The summer tour will take place May 18-27 and will consist of three games in Katowice, Poland, and two in Berlin, Germany, against the Polish and German U20 national teams.  The AIA team is made up of Division I basketball players from around the country, including current Sycamore players Dwayne Lathan and Koang Doluony.  In addition to the team’s games, McKenna and Illinois head coach Bruce Weber of Illinois will also conduct a national coaching clinic in Katowice, Poland, from May 22-24 and another in Berlin, Germany, from May 25-26.

McKenna not only looks forward to coaching the team, but also the opportunity of traveling the world and teaching the game he loves.

“The experience of going overseas and playing against some good teams is going to be a positive experience for our young players and myself,” McKenna said.  “I have the opportunity to bring my son, Bobby, on the trip with me.  I miss a lot of things in his life due to time constraints during the season and this will be a great time to spend together and experience something special.  I’m also looking forward to working closely and learning from Bruce Weber, who will conduct a couple of clinics with us while we are over there.”

Now in its 43rd year, Athletes in Action has sought to be a global pioneer, innovator, and servant leader in sport ministry. As of 2006, AIA has a ministry presence in 85 countries, on nearly 100 U.S. college campuses, and on 35 U.S. professional sports teams. Every summer AIA sends teams of college athletes in multiple sports to compete overseas and grow their individual faith.