JONESBORO, Ark. (7/12/2012) — Arkansas State head football coach Gus Malzahn and members of his coaching staff will be the hosts for the 14^th annual Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Golf Classic, scheduled for Monday, July 30 at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock.

The day’s events will get underway with a noon lunch, followed by a 1:00 p.m. tee time.  Awards will be presented at 5:30 p.m., and a reception and dinner will wrap up the day at 6:00 p.m.

That evening's dinner is being billed as "Talking Football with Gus Malzahn." The cost for an afternoon of golf for four players and a dinner table of 10 is $2,500. The fee for just a golf team of four is $2,000. Individual dinner tickets for "Talking Football with Gus Malzahn" are $150, and tables of 10 can be purchased for $1,500 each. 

Already committed to playing the tournament from Arkansas State are Malzahn, assistant football coaches John Thompson, J.B. Grimes, David Gunn, Rhett Lashlee, Kenny Ingram, Casey Woods, Dean Jackson, Brandon Hall and Eli Drinkwitz, Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee, along with former head men’s basketball coach Nelson Catalina, former football player Bill Phillips and former Olympic pole vaulter Earl Bell.  Other notable sports figures from across the state who are also committed to playing are Ken Hatfield, Jesse Branch, Ken Turner, David Bazzell, Bobby Tiner, Terry Conder Johnson, Trey Schap, Jim Mooty, Kevin McReynolds, Larry Snyder, Justin Acri, Pat Bradley, Wes Moore, Harold Horton, Norm DeBriyn, Scott Tabor, Gerald Nesbit and Gary Adams.

“We are certainly honored and excited for Coach Malzahn and his staff to be the hosts for this year’s Celebrity Golf Classic,” said Lee.  “Everyone across the state knows what a worthy cause this is and what a great job the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame does of honoring the best that our state offers to the sporting world.”

The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Golf Classic long has been one of the premier golf events in the state, featuring past inductees into the Hall of Fame and other sports celebrities.  Those desiring more information should call Jennifer Smith at (501) 663-4328 or Catherine Johnson at (501) 821-1021.

All proceeds from the July 30 event will benefit the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1959. The Class of 2012 was inducted in February at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock with more than 1,400 people in attendance at the induction banquet.

Ray Tucker is the executive director of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and Little Rock businessman Andrew Meadors is the organization's president.

The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Museum on the west side of Verizon Arena is open each Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. It includes an 88-seat theater with a video highlighting the careers of Arkansas sports greats along with a touch-screen kiosk with a database of all Hall of Fame inductees

Members of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame vote each year on inductees. Membership dues are $50 annually. Membership forms can be obtained by going to the organization's website at www.arksportshalloffame.com.

Season tickets for ASU's 2012 football campaign are currently on sale at the ASU Ticket Office. The ticket office can be contacted at 870-972-ASU1, or tickets can be purchased online through A-State's official athletic Web site AStateRedWolves.com.