Nick Nurse
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IOWA’S NICK NURSE AND AUSTIN’S QUIN SNYDER TO COACH 2009 NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2008 – Iowa Energy head coach Nick Nurse and Austin Toros head coach Quin Snyder will coach the 2009 NBA D-League All-Star game in Phoenix on February 14, it was announced today. Nurse, Snyder, and their assistants earned the honor by securing the best winning percentages in the league through Jan. 27.

Nurse’s Energy (15-6, .714) started the season winning nine of the team’s first 10 games and has secured a league-best 9-2 home record. The squad is currently on a four-game winning streak. Nurse, currently in his second year as head coach in Iowa, has produced two GATORADE Call-Ups in Courtney Sims, who was also honored as the season’s first Performer of the Week on Dec. 1, and Anthony Tolliver who were called up to the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Hornets, respectively. Nurse will be joined by Energy assistant coach Gary Garner in Phoenix.

Quin Snyder
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Also in his second season as head coach, Snyder has led his Austin Toros to a 16-7 (.696) mark through the team’s first 23 games. Snyder has thus far had one of his Toros called-up to the NBA when Malik Hairston earned the season’s second GATORADE CALL-UP signing with the San Antonio Spurs. During his first season at the helm in Austin, Snyder guided his team to a 30-20 regular season record and the team’s first-ever trip to the NBA D-League Finals before balling in three games to the eventual champion Idaho Stampede. Assistant coach Wendell Alexis will accompany Snyder to Phoenix.

The 2009 NBA D-League All-Star Game will be held on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas at 2pm MT.

The NBA D-League will also host the second annual Dream Factory Friday Night, a skills competition similar to NBA All-Star Saturday Night, which will include a three-point shootout, a slam dunk contest, and a game of H.O.R.S.E. Dream Factory events will take place on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas beginning at 7:15 p.m. MT on Friday, Feb. 13.