2008-09 NBA D-League Coaches: A Closer Look
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by Matthew Brennan, D-League.com
November 12, 2008: The NBA D-League is known for sending players to the NBA, but another key part of the league's goal is preparing coaches to reach the next level. Here is a look at the coaching staff for all 16 NBA D-League teams that will be opening training camps this weekend. Several coaches from last season are now on NBA coaching staffs, including Jeff Ruland (Philadelphia), Roy Rogers (New Jersey), and Joe Wolf (Milwaukee).
John Coffino, Albuquerque Thunderbirds John Coffino enters his first season as the head coach after Jeff Ruland's departure to join the staff of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Thunderbirds finished 22-28 last season with Coffino as Ruland's assistant coach. NBA assigned Phoenix Suns D.J. Strawberry and Alando Tucker both earned NBA D-League Performer of the Week honors with the Thunderbirds in 2007-08. Former NBA player Darvin Ham, who played for the T-Birds last year, and fellow NBA vet Dean Garrett will be the assistant coaches.
Sam Vincent, Anaheim Arsenal
Vincent returns to the NBA D-League after serving as head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2007-08 and as an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks during 2006-07. He was the first former D-League coach to become the head coach of an NBA team. He led the Fort Worth Flyers to a league-best 28-20 record and an appearance in the NBA D-League Chamionship Game to cap off the 2005-06 season. During that year in Fort Worth he coached current NBA players Ime Udoka, Kelenna Azubuike, Josh Powell, Jamario Moon, Martell Webster, and Von Wafer. Fellow NBA veteran Paul Mokeski, who was an assistant to Vincent with the Bobcats last season, will join Vincent in Anaheim.
Quin Snyder, Austin Toros
Snyder, the former head man at Missouri and an assistant to Coach K at Duke, enjoyed a very successful debut season in Austin last year. Snyder's Toros won the Southwest Division with a 30-20 record and advanced to the NBA D-League Finals, falling one win short of the title. Four different Toros received a total of six GATORADE Call-Ups while playing for Snyder last season. Former NJIT assistant Wendell Alexis replaces assistant Roy Rogers, who joined the New Jersey Nets' coaching staff for the 2008-09 season.
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Scott Roth will enter his first full season as the head coach after replacing Jim Harrick in Bakersfield last January. Roth, who played in 160 NBA games during the 1980s, previously served as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies. Former UNLV assistant coach Dean Martin moves from the assistant spot with the Dakota Wizards to Bakersfield.
Bob MacKinnon, Colorado 14ers
MacKinnon will have some big shoes to fill as he replaces Joe Wolf, who led the 14ers to two playoff appearances and the 2006-07 NBA D-League Championship game. The son of former NBA coach and GM Bob MacKinnon Sr, MacKinnon was a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers last season and has coaching experience as an assistant at Marshall, North Carolina, and Notre Dame. Casey Owens returns as the assistant coach.
Duane Ticknor, Dakota Wizards
Duane Ticknor returns for his second season with the Wizards after guiding Dakota to a 29-21 record and the Central Division title in 2008-09. Guard Blake Ahearn earned the 2007-08 NBA D-League Rookie of the Year Award while playing for Ticknor, who won four Coach of the Year awards in the IBA. Ticknor also coached the CBA's Gary Steelheads for three seasons prior to taking the helm of the Wizards. Kevin Rice, who assisted Dave Joerger on the 2006-07 D-League Championship team, returns to Bismarck as the assistant coach.
John Treloar, Erie BayHawks
John Treloar will lead the Erie BayHawks into their first season in the NBA D-League. Treloar spent most of the 90s coaching in the CBA, taking home a league title with Wichita Falls in 1991. More recently he has been working in the college ranks as an assistant coach with Indiana and LSU. Treloar went to the NCAA title game with the Hoosiers in 2002 and made another trip to the Final Four with the LSU Tigers in 2006. Ben McDonald will be the assistant coach.
Jaren Jackson, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Former NBA player Jaren Jackson took over as head coach of the Mad Ants after Kent Davison's departure. The Mad Ants finished their first season in the NBA D-League with a 17-33 mark. Jackson coached in the CBA and the ABA after ending his playing career, where he won an NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs during the 1998-99 season. Overall, he played in 431 NBA games over 12 seasons as a player. Former college head coach (IPFW) Doug Noll returns as the assistant.
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Bryan Gates has won both Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year Awards and last season's NBA D-League Championship during his tenure with the Stampede. He has led Idaho to a 69-31 regular season mark since they entered the NBA D-League prior to the 2006-07 season. Gates, who is an alumnus of nearby Boise State, assisted the late Dennis Johnson with the Austin Toros during the 2005-06 campaign. Randy Livingston, who led Idaho to the title at point guard last season and earned NBA D-League MVP honors in 2006-07 will enter his first season as the assistant coach.
Nick Nurse, Iowa Energy
Nick Nurse returns for his second campaign in Des Moines after guiding the Energy to a 22-28 record during their first NBA D-League season. A native of Iowa, Nurse spent 11 years as a coach in England before returning home to lead the Energy. Former SE Missouri State head coach Gary Garner returns for his second campaign as the assistant coach.
Dan Panaggio, Los Angeles D-Fenders
Panaggio, who along with Idaho's Bryan Gates is the longest-serving head coach in the league, enters his third year at the helm of the D-Fenders. He led Los Angeles to the second-best record in the D-League last season with a 32-18 mark and their first playoff berth. Panaggio is one of the most experienced coaches in the league, serving as head coach of the CBA's Quad City Thunder between 1991-2000 before joining the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant coach. He was named CBA Coach of the Year in 2000. NBA veteran Chucky Brown returns as the assistant coach for his third season with the D-Fenders.
Jay Humphries, Reno Bighorns
Humphries enjoyed a stellar NBA career as a guard with the Suns, Bucks, and Jazz and then moved into the coaching ranks, most recently as an assistant to Mike D'Antoni on the Phoenix Suns' staff last season. Humphries also built up his coaching experience in Korea, where he led teams from 2002-2007 and won three league titles. Jason Glover will be the assistant coach in the first season for the Bighorns.
Clay Moser, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Clay Moser takes over as the head coach for the Vipers' second NBA D-League season. Moser is a familiar name to another D-League team after serving as the general manager of the Idaho Stampede from 1997 to 2001. Moser will be assisted by former NBA player Robert Pack.
Nate Tibbetts, Sioux Falls Skyforce
Sioux Falls native Nate Tibbetts will return for his second season as the head coach after he was promoted from assistant coach. Tibbetts led Sioux Falls to their second straight D-League playoff appearance and a 28-22 record in 2007-08. Tibbetts was an assistant for the previous two seasons for the Skyforce and posted a 92-44 record as an assistant at the University of Sioux Falls between 2001 and 2005. Tony Fritz returns as the assistant coach.
Paul Woolpert, Tulsa 66ers
Woolpert becomes the second head coach to lead the 66ers while they enter a new era under the ownership of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Woolpert brings an impressive minor-league basketball resume to Tulsa after winning the past two CBA Coach of the Year awards with the Yakima Sun Kings. He also led the Sun Kings to four league titles during his tenure as head coach in Yakima which began in 1998. Former NBA player Greg Minor will be the assistant coach.
Brad Jones, Utah Flash
Jones led the Flash to a 24-26 record during their first NBA D-League season. Under his leadership Utah Jazz assigned players Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko both earned spots in the 2008 NBA D-League All-Star Game in New Orleans. Prior to joining the Flash Jones was a regional scout for the Jazz, one of the Flash's NBA affiliate teams. Dale Osbourne will return as the assistant coach.
