Canton Charge Head Coach Alex Jensen was named the 2012-13 NBA Development League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year, the league office announced today. The award is voted on by all 16 NBA D-League Head Coaches.
In his second year at the helm for the Charge, Jensen led his team to a 30-20 mark, good for the franchise’s first-ever East Division Championship and a playoff berth for the second time in as many seasons of existence.
“Alex has been a tremendous leader for the Charge and is one of the main reasons why we have had the positive results we have had over the past two seasons,” said Cavaliers and Charge Director of Development League Operations Mike Gansey. “He deserves high praise for the job he has done, including establishing a successful balance between developing players and guiding the collective team.”
The Charge finished the season as the top scoring defense in the NBA D-League by allowing just 96.0 points per game and the top perimeter defense by limiting opponents to .303 shooting from three-point range. Canton held opponents under 100 points in 27 games and under 90 points 17 times, posting 21-6 and 15-2 records in those instances respectively.
“Whenever there’s an individual award given out, it’s always about more than just one person and I had a great staff and organization working with me. I’m very thankful for that and appreciate their hard work and support.” said Jensen. “I think this also speaks highly of the kind of players that we have brought to Canton and the close connection that exists between the Cavaliers and Charge.”
In his first-ever head coaching job, Jensen was hired as the first Charge Head Coach on October 11, 2011. In two seasons, he has compiled a 57-43 record and a 4-5 postseason record with two playoff berths and one division title. The Charge advanced to within one win of the NBA D-League Finals in their inaugural season.
The award is named in honor of the late Dennis Johnson, NBA Legend and former Austin Toros head coach who was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2010. In his playing career, Johnson won three NBA titles with the Boston Celtics and Seattle SuperSonics, played in five NBA All-Star games and was named to the All-Defensive First Team six times. He served as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2002, and was in his third season coaching in the NBA D-League when he passed away.
The Canton Charge are exclusively operated by the Cleveland Cavaliers and also owned by a group led by Cavaliers Majority Owner and Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert. The group also owns and operates the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League and the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League, both playing at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.
Fans can stay up-to-date on team news by following the team at: @CantonCharge on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CantonCharge and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CantonCharge.