DETROIT - IUPUI Head Basketball Coach Ron Hunter was honored with a Guardians of the Game Pillar Award for Service at the AT&T/NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Show at the Max M. Fisher Theater on Sunday night. Hunter was honored for his charitable work with Samaritan’s Feet.

The NABC annually recognizes coaches that serve as community leaders who help enhance their communities through civic involvement. Previous winners include Dave Rose (BYU), Richard Reed (Sacramento State), Jim Kessler (Grace College), Bill Van Gundy (Genesee C.C.) and Bo Ryan (Wisconsin).

This became the latest in a long line of accolades the longtime IUPUI Head Coach has received over the past year. Others include the 2009 Accomplished Achievement Award from the Center for Leadership Development, the 2009 Giant Steps Award Winners from the NCAS, a Presidents Award from the Indiana University Foundation, the Omega Psi Phi Citizen of the Year, an IPS Coaches Community Award and an Indiana Pacers Indiana Heroes honoree.

Hunter gained national acclaim on Jan. 24, 2008 when he coached a game in his barefeet to help raise awareness to the growing need for shoes to benefit impoverished children worldwide. Last summer, he and his coaching staff and selected student-athletes traveled to Peru to personally donate the shoes to those in need.

This past season, Hunter called on his coaching colleagues to join him in coaching barefoot during the month of January. With Hunter leading the charges, shoes were collected from coast-to-coast to benefit children, both in the U.S. and overseas. Samaritan’s Feet put together a shoe distribution this past weekend in Detroit in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Hunter will also be recognized on Wednesday, April 29 when the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform in its bare feet and raise money for the local non-profit. The ISO will perform a program of powerful music from some of the most popular and inspiring sports films of all time.