BISMARCK N.D., July 20, 2009 – The Dakota Wizards announced today the hiring of Rory White. White has been an NBA assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers for the past six seasons, though Wizards fans will also recognize him from his two separate stints as the head coach of the Idaho Stampede, the last ending in 2003, as well as from when he was the former head coach of the Fargo-Moorhead Beez in the now defunct IBA.

“We are very pleased to have Rory join our family,” Wizards owner Steve McCormick said.  “Rory has proven his success both on and off the court and we feel very fortunate to have someone with his experience at the helm of our team.” 
A native of Tuskegee, Alabama, White played collegiately at the University of South Alabama, where he was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 1979 and earned All Conference honors his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. In 1983, White was honored when South Alabama retired his jersey.   White then played five seasons in the NBA before embarking on a successful minor league and overseas career, culminating in 1995 with the F-M Fever.  Upon finishing his playing career with the Fever, White embarked on a successful coaching career with the team as well.  From 1995- 1998, White was head coach of the Fargo-Moorhead Beez and won two IBA championships.

White then took an assistant coaching position in the Continental Basketball Association with the Idaho Stampede before being named head coach for the 2000-01 CBA season.  The CBA folded mid-season however, and White was renamed head coach of the F-M Beez.  That season, White was once again successful, being named the coach of the IBA All-Star team as well as coaching the Beez to a 25-12 record, the 2nd best in the IBA that season.  White was then re-hired as the Stampede head coach for the 2002-03 season before being hired by the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant coach, a position he’s held for the past six seasons.   White, who has made his offseason home in Fargo, North Dakota since being named the inaugural head coach of the Fargo-Moorhead Beez in 1995, is also excited to be a part of the strong tradition of past Wizards’ coaches.   “In my opinion, this is one of the top jobs outside of being an NBA head coach,” White said.  “Coaching as a visitor in the past, I was always impressed by the great crowd support and on the court success the Wizards have had.  My goal is to continue the Wizards success going into their 15th Anniversary season.”

White and his wife, Julie, have two sons, Rory Jr. and Josh, and one daughter, Jenna.