McDonald's(R) Chooses Coaches for 2006 All American High School Games; Winningest Girls High School Coach, John Wooden National Coach of the Year among '06 Selections.

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Some of the greatest active coaches in high school basketball were given the nod today to lead the top high school talent in the country at the 2006 McDonald's All American Games, March 29, 2006 in San Diego State's Cox Arena. Combined, the four coaches have more than 2,650 total victories in prep basketball and over 100 years of coaching experience.

Leta Andrews of Granbury High School in Texas, the all-time winningest girls high school coach in the country with 1,218 wins, will lead the Girls East team. Wade Vickery, three-time San Diego County Coach of the Year at Santana High School, leads the Girls West team. Harvey Kitani, head coach of Fairfax High School in Los Angeles and John R. Wooden National Coach of the Year, will coach the Boys West team. Doug Lipscomb, head coach at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga. heads the Boys East squad.

The 29th annual McDonald's All American (R) Boys High School Basketball Game begins at 7:00 p.m. (PST) and will be broadcast live on ESPN from San Diego State's Cox Arena, March 29. The fifth annual Girls Game will tip off earlier that day at 4:30 p.m. (PST) and be broadcast on ESPN2, Monday, April 6 at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

Leta Andrews (Girls East) is the all-time winningest girls high school coach in country. The Granbury High School coach out of Texas has taken her team to 16 State Final Four appearances and won a state championship in 1990. Coach Andrews is a member of the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame and a three-time winner of the Texas Coach of the Year award. Coach Andrews' accomplishments extend off the court as well as she was selected the 1993 Outstanding American Coach/Teacher of the Year by the Walt Disney Company. She is the director of numerous basketball camps and an accomplished public speaker. "I take pride not only in victories, but in seeing an individual gaining confidence," said Andrews. "I want to see them grow in academics, athletics and in their personal lives."

Wade Vickery (Girls West) has been coaching at Santana High School in San Diego for over 25 years and a Math teach for 29 years. His 602-115 record speaks for itself as to the impact he has had on girl's basketball in Southern California. Coach Vickery has taken his team to 19 League Championships and eight Section Championships. He is a seven-time San Diego East County Coach of the Year, three-time San Diego County Coach of the Year and he was the 2002 California Coach of the Year. "I've been coaching a long time and you don't always get the chance to coach kids at this level and caliber that play in the McDonald's All American Game," said Vickery. "It's a big thrill for me."

Doug Lipscomb (Boys East), in his 14 years at the helm of the Wildcats has guided the team to eight regional championships, six appearances in the Georgia Final Four, five appearances in the title game, and four State Titles, mounting a 351-69 record. In addition, his teams have finished the year ranked nationally by USA Today on five different occasions, including No. 18 in 2005. Lipscomb's Wildcats, having capped off their third State Title in the last four years, never done before in Georgia's Class AAAAA. He is the father of 11-year-old triplets, Douglas, David and Danielle. Lipscomb's assistants for the game will be Marc Carver, of Wheeler High and Bennie Gibbs of Berkmar High. "I'm very excited to work with the best players in the country at the McDonald's All American Game," said Lipscomb. "I'm also looking forward to seeing Coach Kitani (boys west coach) again, he's a nice guy and a great coach."

Harvey Kitani (Boys West), who won his 500th game this year (506-169 career), has made a playoff appearance in each of his 25 years coaching Fairfax High School. He has amassed 13 league championships, two Los Angeles City championships and one State Championship in 2004. Last season, Kitani received the California Coaches Association State Coach of the Year Award. He has also received the John R. Wooden National Coach of the Year award, among others. His assistant coaches will be J.D. Green, from Fairfax and Scott Ogden, head coach at Carlsbad High School near San Diego. Kitani resides in Torrance, Calif. with wife Shannon and two sons, Grant, 11, and Trent, 8. "I feel this is the premier post-season event," Kitani said. "And the people at McDonald's are doing a great thing to give back to the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego."

The players are not the only ones who will join an exclusive club of former McDonald's All American athletes like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. The coaches participating in the 2006 Games will join an elite list of alumni, including Mike Jarvis (`81) and Bob Hurley (`88).

Although the Games are often referred to as the "best-known gathering of high school senior all-stars," the final score is measured in more than just points. This year, the net proceeds from the Games will benefit RMHC(R) of San Diego and their Ronald McDonald House program. To date, the McDonald's All American Games have raised more than $5 million for RMHC raised since the Game was first played in 1978. Previous beneficiaries of McDonald's All American Games include Sickle Cell Anemia Research, the United Negro College Fund and many other local children's charities. For more information about RMHC, please visit www.rmhc.org.

McDonald's is the world's leading foodservice retailer, with more than 30,000 restaurants serving over 47 million people each day. Approximately 70 percent of McDonald's U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent local businessmen and women.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities 

Ronald McDonald House Charities(R), 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 nearly 50 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room(TM) and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile(TM). RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $430 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org.

(C)2006 McDonald's Corporation