Bank of the West, Sun Bowl Association

Team Up To Honor El Paso Legend

EL PASO, Texas (September 8, 2009) - The Sun Bowl Association announced today that it has secured a corporate sponsor for the Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament. In conjunction with the new sponsorship, the Association has also changed the tournament's name to honor an El Paso legend.

Bank of the West, a full-service financial institution owned and operated by El Pasoans, has agreed to sponsor the tournament for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Along with the new sponsorship, the tournament will now honor the memory of Basketball Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins, who coached UTEP in the event 38 times from 1961 to 1998, renaming the event the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.

"We are extremely excited to team with Bank of the West to launch this new era of our tournament," said Frank Bates, president of the Sun Bowl Association. "It is also a great pleasure to honor the memory of Don Haskins for what he meant to this community and this nation."

The Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational is the nation's oldest collegiate holiday basketball tournament. This year will mark the 48th edition of the event that began in 1961, when Haskins was in his first year as the head coach at UTEP.

"Bank of the West is excited to be a part of this great tournament and in honoring the legendary Don Haskins," said L. Frederick Francis, Executive Chairman at Bank of the West. "Sponsoring the invitational gives us an opportunity to show our support and commitment to growing our local economy."

This year's field consists of Air Force, Niagara, Norfolk State and UTEP. The Miners will face Norfolk State on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m., followed by Air Force against Niagara at 9 p.m. The consolation and championship games are slated for Dec. 29 starting at 5:30 p.m.

"I can think of no better tribute to coach Haskins than renaming the Sun Bowl tournament in his honor," said UTEP head coach Tony Barbee. "He has meant so much to this city, the university and the game of basketball, and some of his greatest coaching exploits have come in this legendary event.  I know Miner fans everywhere are excited about the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational returning to El Paso in 2009."

Haskins amassed 719 career wins as the head coach of the Miners for 38 seasons. He led UTEP to the 1966 NCAA title, won seven Western Athletic Conference championships, four WAC tournament titles, had fourteen NCAA tournament berths and made seven trips to the NIT. Haskins led UTEP to 17 20-plus win seasons and served as an assistant Olympic team coach in 1972. He led the Miners to 23 tournament titles in the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational

Haskins was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997 as a basketball coach. The 1966 team was named in its entirety to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Heading into this year, 89 teams have participated in the tournament which has produced 18 different tournament champions. The Miners have claimed 27 crowns, including a 79-73 defeat of Wyoming in the 2007 title game.  Over the history of the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, 69 teams have gone on to post-season play in the same season that they participated in the tournament.

Beginning Dec. 1, tournament tickets will be available at the Sun Bowl Association office at (915-533-4416 or 800-915-BOWL), the UTEP Ticket Center (915-747-5234) and TicketMast-er outlets. Tournament tickets can be reserved now by calling the Sun Bowl Association office. Tournament tickets are also included in UTEP season ticket packages.

Ticket prices are as follows:     Four-Game, Two-Night Package:

                                                            $40 (rows 1-34) and $20 (rows 35-39);

                                                            * $20 UTEP students, plus one guest

                                                            Two-Game, One-Night Package (Day of Game Only):

                                                            $22 (rows 1-34) and $12 (rows 35-39),

                                                            * $12 UTEP students, plus one guest

                                                            * - Must purchase at the UTEP Ticket Center Only

About the Sun Bowl Association

The Sun Bowl Association is a non-profit organization that operates the Brut Sun Bowl, the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, the Western Refining Sun Bowl All-America Golf Classic, the Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta, the SportsWorld Sun Bowl 5K Run & Walk, the Helen of Troy Halftime Show, the Price's Give ‘Em Five Basketball Skills Camp, the Price's Give ‘Em Five Sun Bowl Punt, Pass and Kick Regional Competition, the Helen of Troy Sun Court Charm Camp, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Sun Bowl International Soccer Tournament, the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade and is affiliated with the Sun Bowl Art Exhibit.

About Bank of the West

Bank of the West is El Paso's largest, locally owned community bank with assets of more than $800 million.  It has eight branches throughout the El Paso area providing businesses and retail consumers local access to a wide array of banking, lending, and financial products.   For more information, visit the Bank of the West website at www.botw-ep.com.

HISTORY OF A NAME

1961-63        Sun Carnival Basketball Tournament

1964-76        Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament

1977-85        Sun Bowl Basketball Classic

1986-88        John Hancock Sun Bowl Classic

1989-90        Sun Carnival Basketball Classic

1991-92        Sierra Medical Sun Carnival Basketball Classic

1993-96        Sierra Medical Center Sun Carnival Basketball Classic

1997-03        Sierra Providence SunClassic Basketball Tournament

2004-07        State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament

2009-           Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational