For Fontbonne head men's coach, Lee McKinney, Oct. 15 could not come fast enough. Along with being the first day of his 41st season, it was also his first day back on campus following a successful battle with lung cancer.

This was McKinney's second win over a familiar opponent. Seven years ago he also defeated colon cancer. Since that time he has been a major supporter of the program Coaches vs. Cancer.

McKinney said, "as a coach you ask your athletes to play each game as if it was their last. Now I'm practicing what I've preached, living everyday as if it was my last."

McKinney is entering his 15th year as the athletic director and head coach at Fontbonne, located in St. Louis. He is just seven wins shy of 700 for his career, counting high school and college games. Along with his duties at Fontbonne he also serves as the president of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and entering his second year as a member of the NCAA Nominating Committee.