Joe Foley’s heartwarming gesture for cancer-stricken coach

At the end of each season, every conference votes for a coach who stood out among the conference for their diligence and body of work that their team has produced during the year.

Thursday night, prior to Little Rock and Appalachian State playing their quarterfinal game in the Sun Belt’s tournament, the Coach of the Year award was given to Little’s Rock’s Joe Foley. However, immediately after receiving the award, he gave it away.

Yes, after the conference coaches had voted he deserved the honor, he decided in his mind, that there was another coach in the Sun Belt who deserved the award. That person was Angel Elderkin, the head coach at Appalachian State who has been battling cancer.

This is why we play — or in this scenario, coach — not just for the competitive moments on the court, however the heartwarming memories that extend further than the hardwood. Even though she is fighting a tough internal battle, Elderkin has continued to keep coaching.

The Sun Belt caught the moment on camera and shared it via Twitter: