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          Boston Colleges Report

          Chillin 4 Charity hits Heights

          • Jack McCluskey
          Jun 25, 2014, 04:25 PM ET

          The summer heat has settled in, and across the Commonwealth, overheating people are searching for ways to cool off.

          They’re using all the old standbys, hopping in pools, diving into ponds, running through pulsating sprinklers ...

          Getting buckets of ice water dumped over their heads, while fully clothed.

          At least, that’s what has been happening on the campus in Chestnut Hill over the past week.

          First, there was women’s basketball coach Erik Johnson:

          Then on Tuesday came the rest of the women’s hoops staff:

          That Instagram post came with this caption: “The BC staff completed the #Chillin4Charity challenge! Who knew a little cold water could produce these faces?! #WeAreBC.”

          And while the faces produced by associate head coach Yvonne Hawkins, assistant coach Shelley Sheetz and director of operations Chris Brann are reward enough, there’s more to this than fun in the sun. The dousings are a way to raise money for charity, as the #Chillin4Charity hashtag implies.

          Part of the Cold Water Challenge, which was started by Arizona head coach Niya Butts and has spread virally across the college sports landscape, is raising money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

          When a head coach is challenged, he or she has 48 hours to answer. If the challenged person fails to complete the challenge, the cost is a $250 donation to the Kay Yow fund. For every challenge answered, the challenger donates $50.

          Challenged assistant coaches owe $100 if they don’t complete the task, with answered challenges requiring a $25 donation from the challenger. Challenged players don’t have to put up any cash -- they owe community service hours (five of ‘em), if they don’t respond.

          The fun expanded to the men’s hoops side on Wednesday, with the team teasing something coming early in the day:

          Sure enough, new men’s hoops coach Jim Christian also accepted the Cold Water Challenge. As BC hoops campers looked on, Eagles Dennis Clifford and Eddie Odio helped their new coach with the task:

          Hope Steve Addazio doesn’t mind an ice bath for a good cause, because the challenge is likely coming his way soon.

          Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.