2/16/10 - 2010 McDonald's Games Coaches Announced

CONTACT:
Liz Woerth, GolinHarris
740-917-5223
lwoerth@golinharris.com

Brittany Gorniewicz, GolinHarris
312-729-4380
bgorniewicz@golinharris.com

McDONALD'S ANNOUNCES COACHES FOR 2010 ALL AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAMES IN COLUMBUS, OHIO

Six Ohio Head Coaches to Lead Premier High School Basketball Event

OAK BROOK, ILL (February 16, 2010) - A record-setting eight high school basketball coaches were picked today to lead the East and West (boys and girls) basketball squads at the 2010 McDonald's All American Games, tipping off Wednesday, March 31 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The four sets of co-head coaches combine for nearly 3,000 career victories and almost 150 years of coaching experience. Proceeds from the 2010 McDonald's All American Games will benefit families and children in need through Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Central Ohio.

Dave Schlabach of Berlin Hiland High School in Berlin, Ohio and Scott Rogers of Indian Hill High School in Cincinnati, Ohio will lead the Girls East team, while Cathy Self-Morgan of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas and Dorena Bingham of Alaska will coach the Girls West team. Columbus-area coaches Dru Joyce II of St. Vincent - St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio and Norm Persin of Oak Hill High School in Oak Hill, Ohio will serve as co-head coaches of the Boys East team. Eric Flannery, head coach at St. Edward High School in Cleveland, Ohio and Carl Kremer of Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio will head the Boys West squad.

The ninth-annual Girls Game will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET and will broadcast live on ESPNU. The 33rd Boys Game will follow the Girls Game at 8:00 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN.

David Schlabach (Girls East) has a 396-57 record with four state titles and four additional state final four appearances in his 19 seasons at Berlin Hiland. He received the National Federation Coach of the Year Award in 2009.

Scott Rogers (Girls East) has been coaching girl's basketball since 1994. In 2004, Rogers was named the AP Ohio Coach of the Year while leading his team to a perfect 28-0 record, and finishing the season ranked No. 2 in the USA Today poll. His career record is 151-31.

Cathy Self-Morgan (Girls West) is making her second appearance at the McDonald's High School All American Games, having previously coached the class of 2004 in Oklahoma City, Okla. She has a 833-183 all-time coaching record and has never posted a losing record in her 32-year career.

Dorena Bingham (Girls West) coached at East Anchorage High School for 14 seasons, with a record of 280-104 before retiring in 2008. Throughout her tenure, Bingham won three Alaska State 4A Championships.

Dru Joyce II (Boys East), head coach at St. Vincent - St. Mary for nine years with a career record of 159-41. He has two State Championships to his name: His first in 2003 with senior McDonald's All American LeBron James, and his second in 2009.

Norm Persin (Boys East) is No. 9 on the all-time wins list for the state of Ohio with 586 in his 33 years as varsity basketball coach. Persin's Oak Hill Oaks won the Ohio Division IV crown in 2009 the same year he himself was named the National High School Coach of the Year by the NHSF.

Eric Flannery (Boys West) has produced more than 40 NCAA college basketball players in his 14 years as the head coach of St. Edward High School. He has a record of 250-80 and led his team to six Ohio Division-I Final Fours and a State Championship in 1998.

Carl Kremer (Boys West) is in his 19th season as the head basketball coach for Moeller High School, during which he compiled a record of 338-123. Kremer has led his teams to three Division-I Ohio State Championships. Additionally, Kremer and his family are long time supporters of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, having stayed at the Philadelphia House during the early 1990's. "I stayed in Ronald McDonald Houses when my son was in and out of surgery during his first couple years," said Kremer. "For me, the charity of this great game is near and dear to me."

The McDonald's All American Games have raised millions of dollars for RMHC since the Game was first played in 1978. For more information about RMHC, please visit www.rmhc.org.

About McDonald's

McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome food made from quality ingredients to more than 26 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local business men and women. Customers can now log online for free at any of the 11,000 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter (@McDonalds) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonalds) for updates on our business, promotions and products.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most - right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of local Chapters in 52 countries and regions and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. These programs provide a bridge to accessible health care and allow families more time together, which helps in the healing process. RMHC and its global network of local Chapters also have awarded more than $460 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org.