The New York Knicks announced today that Mike Woodson has joined Head Coach Mike D’Antoni’s staff as an assistant coach. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I was extremely encouraged after meeting with Mike that he would be a great addition to our coaching staff and we are pleased to welcome him back to New York,” D’Antoni said. “Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team and we are confident that he will help us as we continue towards our goal of building a championship team.”
Woodson joins the Knicks after serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons from 2004-2010, where he guided the Hawks to the playoffs in each of his last three seasons. In six seasons in Atlanta, Woodson amassed a 209-286 (.419) coaching record in 492 games while posting an 11-18 record in 29 playoff games. Prior to joining the Hawks, Woodson served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks (1996-99), Cleveland Cavaliers (1999-2001), Philadelphia 76ers (2001-03) and the 2003-04 NBA Champion Detroit Pistons.
“I consider Mike D’Antoni to be one of the top coaches in our game and I am thankful for this opportunity,” Woodson said. “I’m excited to re-join this great franchise where my professional career started and will work to build off of the success they had here last season.”
May 2011 Basketball Wiretap
The Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League have hired Eric Musselman as head coach, it was announced today by team President Joey Buss.
“I’m excited to announce Eric Musselman as the Los Angeles D-Fenders head coach,” said Buss. “He has vast experiences in both the NBA and NBA Development League and will be a great addition to our franchise. I look forward to working with Eric and having a successful season.”
Musselman, who has over 20 years of coaching experience, most recently served as head coach for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League. During his stint in Reno, he compiled a 34-16 record, second best in the league, while leading the team to the Western Conference regular season title and a semifinal berth in the NBA D-League playoffs.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining a first class organization like the D-Fenders,” said Musselman. “Our staff will work hard to develop young players for the next level while at the same time being an extremely competitive team.”
Before coaching in the NBA Development League, Musselman spent over ten years as a coach in the NBA.
General Manager John Hammond announced today that Sidney Moncrief has been added as an assistant coach to the 2011-12 Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff. Moncrief, who played 10 seasons with the Bucks, most recently ran his own consulting and motivational training practice for businesses and corporations, in addition to consulting with international basketball teams. Moncrief joins Jim Boylan, Joe Wolf, Bill Peterson and Anthony Goldwire on the coaching staff of Head Coach Scott Skiles.
Moncrief, 53, won the league’s first two Defensive Player of the Year awards (1983 and 1984), is a five-time NBA All-Star (1982-86) and was named to the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams five times in his career. He is among the franchise leaders in points (11,594, third), games (695, second), minutes (22,054, second), field goals (4,000, eighth), free throws (3,505, first), rebounds (3,447, seventh), assists (2,689, second) and steals (874, third). Moncrief’s jersey #4 was retired by the Bucks in a Bradley Center ceremony on January 6, 1990.
The New Jersey Nets have named Milton Lee as the team’s general manager of minor league operations, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.
Lee, who had been the team’s director of basketball operations, will now oversee the basketball operations of the Nets’ D League affiliate, the Springfield Armor. Lee’s duties will include selection of the team’s head coach and coaching staff as well as assembling the Armor roster for the upcoming 2011-12 season.
“Milt is a natural fit for this position,” said King. “He has a strong history with young players and his experience with the Nets basketball operations department will allow for a seamless integration of philosophies between the two teams.”
The Pacers recently let go of three scouts in Brian Winters, Leonard Perry and Joe Ash.
Winters was largely responsible for scouting Paul George.
The three scouts received the news from Ryan Carr, according to Mike Wells' report.
The Golden State Warriors have hired Pete Myers, Wes Unseld Jr. and Jerry DeGregorio as assistant coaches, as well as Darren Erman and Kris Weems as assistant coaches/player development, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreements were not announced.
The new hires will join lead assistant Michael Malone to complete Head Coach Mark Jackson’s staff.
The Boston Celtics announced today that Mike Longabardi has been promoted to a bench assistant coach.
"I'm looking forward to adding Mike to our bench. He has been in the fold the last four years and he's more than ready for the next step," said Doc Rivers.
Longabardi joined the Celtics prior to the start of the 2007-08 season from Houston where he had worked for the previous five seasons as an assistant coach/video coordinator, video coordinator and assistant video coordinator. The native of Brooklyn, New York has also previous coaching experience in the college ranks with Pfeiffer University, Adelphi University, Lafayette College and Towson University. He was on the coaching staff that led the Lafayette Leopards to the Patriot League title.
The New Orleans Hornets announced the hiring of assistant coach Dave Hanners to the coaching staff. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
“Dave is an experienced coach both on the collegiate and professional level who has won a championship on each level,” said Hornets Head Coach Monty Williams. "He brings many tools that will help strengthen our coaching staff and help grow our players. Dave has learned from two of the best coaches in the game, Larry Brown and Dean Smith, and will be a valuable resource to our organization.”