10-27-2015 | BILL COURTNEY TO SPEAK AT INVITATIONAL; TOURNAMENT TO ATTEND PRIVATE SCREENING OF ACADEMY AWARD WINNING MOVIE – “UNDEFEATED”

10-29-2015 | BILL COURTNEY TO SPEAK AT INVITATIONAL; TOURNAMENT TO ATTEND PRIVATE SCREENING OF ACADEMY AWARD WINNING MOVIE – “UNDEFEATED”

By: Cooper Invitational Staff

Coach Bill Courtney founded Classic American Hardwoods, Inc. in 2001. Today, it employs 120 people with a 45 acre manufacturing facility and domestic sales offices in Memphis, TN and international sales offices in Shanghai, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In 2007, Classic American Hardwoods, Inc. won the Memphis Business Journal’s Small Business of the Year Award based on its growth and commitment to community service.

In 2003, Bill began volunteering at Memphis’ inner city Manassas High School in an effort to turn its under-performing football team around. At that time, the team had 19 players with a dismal 4-95, 10-year record. In the 2008 and 2009 seasons, the team’s record improved to 18-2, with 75 players. A Hollywood film – ”Undefeated” – based on this compelling story, won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Feature Length Documentary.

In 2012, Bill was the recipient of the Liberty Bowl’s Harry Zinn Spirit of 1776 Award for distinguished citizenship and the recipient of Carnival Memphis’ Kings Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business and Industry. That same year, Bill was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame. In 2013, Bill was inducted into the prestigious Society of Entrepreneurs as a result of his success in business and community service.

Today, Bill still operates as the President and CEO of Classic American Hardwoods. He is a motivational and inspirational speaker who presents around the world and has been the keynote presenter for the Para Olympics in Colorado Springs, Nike, PepsiCo, FedEx, and other internationally and nationally recognized companies. Bill recently published his first book, Against the Grain.

Tournament participants will have a private screening of “Undefeated” Thursday evening after the Welcome Banquet at the MALCO Paradiso theater.

Don’t forget to enter your bracket in the Bracket Challenge at: http://www.cooperinvitational.com/bracketchallenge.