SACRAMENTO, CA - The Sacramento Kings announced today the members of Head Coach Dave Joerger’s coaching staff for the 2016-17 season, naming Elston Turner, Duane Ticknor, Bryan Gates, Corliss Williamson, Nancy Lieberman and Jason March as assistant coaches.
“We’ve united a tremendously dedicated, hard-working coaching staff with a unique, collective set of experiences and strengths that I’m confident will serve the team well moving forward,” said Joerger.
Turner, who will serve as Joerger’s lead assistant, brings 35 years of NBA experience back to Sacramento where he was part of Western Conference All-Star staffs in 2001 and 2003 during his six seasons as an assistant under Rick Adelman (2000-2006). He most recently completed his third season in Memphis serving in the same capacity for Joerger, helping guide the franchise to playoff berths all three years.
The Tennessee native began his coaching career in the CBA (Continental Basketball Association) as an assistant for the Quad City Thunder and player/coach for the Chicago Rockers in 1994-95. His next job stationed him alongside head coaches P.J. Carlesimo and then Mike Dunleavy Sr. on Portland’s bench from 1996-2000. Turner’s 19-year coaching career includes a reunion with Adelman in Houston (2007-11) and two campaigns in Phoenix as an assistant under Alvin Gentry (2011-13). Drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round (43rd overall) of the 1981 NBA Draft, Turner developed a reputation as a tenacious defender, averaging 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 505 games (97 starts) over eight seasons with the Dallas Mavericks (1981-84), Denver Nuggets (1984-86, 1988-89) and Chicago Bulls (1986-88).
A coaching veteran with 30 years of experience at various levels, Ticknor joins the Kings after spending the last three seasons in Memphis. Prior to entering the NBA ranks, he served as head coach of the NBA Development League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants, guiding the club to a 27-23 record (.540) and an appearance in the 2013 D-League Playoffs. Ticknor’s resume includes two seasons as an assistant coach for the D-League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce (2009-11), two as head coach of the Dakota Wizards (2007-09) and one season in South Korea (2011-12). Additionally, Ticknor spent time in the CBA as head coach of the Gary Steelheads (2002-05), an assistant for the Rapid City Thrillers (1989-92) and in the IBA as head coach of the Black Hills Posse (1995-99), Dakota Wizards (where Joerger served as his assistant coach in 1999-2000) and the Siouxland Bombers (2000-01). A four-time IBA Coach of the Year (1996-98, 2000), Ticknor led his teams to the IBA Finals three times and won the 1997 IBA Championship with Black Hills.
Williamson returns to the Sacramento sidelines for his fourth season on the bench after spending three years as head coach at the University of Central Arkansas (2010-13). His coaching career includes three years at Arkansas Baptist College, two as an assistant before serving as head coach during the 2009-10 season. Drafted 13th overall by Sacramento in the 1995 NBA Draft, Williamson played two stints with the Kings (1995-00, 2004-07), averaging 10.8 points (.492 FG%, .683 FT%), 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 22.9 minutes per game in 466 career contests in Sacramento. Considered one of the greatest players in Arkansas state history, he enjoyed a storied collegiate career at the University of Arkansas, helping guide the Razorbacks to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1993 and an NCAA Championship a year later—earning Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament honors after leading the school to a 76-72 win over Duke.
Gates returns to Sacramento after serving as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season and the previous five seasons in a similar capacity with the New Orleans Pelicans. He entered the NBA coaching ranks with the Kings during the 2009-10 season following a highly-successful three-year stint as a head coach in the NBA D-League with the Idaho Stampede, where Gates was a two-time recipient of the Dennis Johnson Development League Coach of the Year Award (2006-07 & 2007-08), compiling a record of 101-51 (.664 winning percentage, tied for highest in league history), including winning the NBA D-League Championship in 2007-08. Gates was also an assistant coach in Idaho for five years, beginning with the team’s inaugural season. His coaching dossier features head coaching experience with the CBL’s Hickory Nutz in the summer of 2003, and the Beirut Blue Stars of Lebanon in 2004-05.
A member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996), Lieberman begins her second season with the Kings as an assistant coach. The two-time Olympian, three-time All-American, WNBA coach and broadcaster for ESPN/ABC/NBA TV also served as a head coach and assistant general manager for the Dallas Mavericks’ D-League affiliate Texas Legends prior to joining the Kings. As head coach, she guided the Legends to a playoff appearance during the 2010-11 season before working in the team’s front office the following season. Lieberman’s playing resume includes an Olympic Silver Medal (1976) and back-to-back AIAW National Championships with Old Dominion (1979, 1980) where she was thrice named an All-American (1978, 1979, 1980).
March arrives in Sacramento after spending the previous nine seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, most recently as an assistant coach and advance scout. In addition to his responsibilities on the bench, he prepared scouting reports and play diagrams for upcoming opponents. Prior to joining the coaching ranks in 2013, he worked in the Grizzlies video department for six seasons, last serving as director of basketball information and technologies. March’s experience also includes two seasons as the assistant video coordinator with the Phoenix Suns where he was part of a team that advanced to the 2006 Western Conference Finals and two seasons as head video coordinator with the Phoenix Mercury during the team’s WNBA championship run in 2007. A graduate of Florida State University, he earned his bachelor’s degree in education with a specialization in sports management. While in Tallahassee, he assisted the basketball and football programs.
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