By: Nick McGill ~Sports Editor~

The Xavier University athletic department is set to receive a large gift to endow the men’s basketball coach position.

Tom and Genny Sedler are giving Xavier the largest donation ever to its athletic department. The donation will go exclusively to funding the head coaching position, and this is the first endowed coaching position at Xavier.

Endowment of coaching positions has become somewhat of a trend in college sports, first seen in college football.

Tom Sedler is president and CEO of Home City Ice, a Cincinnati-based ice manufacturer and deliverer. He took over the company in the 1980s from his father, who started the company in 1924.

The company has since grown to be a wide distributor, serving thousands of people in thirteen states.

Xavier pride is a family affair for the Sedlers as Tom graduated from St. Xavier High School and Xavier while the four Sedler sons also graduated from Xavier.
In a statement on goxavier.com Tom said, “The University has made an impact on so many lives and has such a strong track record of excellence in both academics and athletics… We’re thrilled to make a gift that will have an impact on Xavier for generations.”

The donation intends to promote continued academic and athletic success in basketball on and off the court while also looking to retain and attract the best
possible teacher and leader for the basketball program. Sedler also donated money to help start the Sedler Family Center for Experiential Learning in Business in 2010.

This led to the naming of the Thomas E. Sedler award given annually to a student-athlete who exemplifies enthusiasm and hard work during his or her time at Xavier.

This endowment only further cements Sedler’s image as a supporter and community member at Xavier.