Macomb County Mustangs
09-27-2005, 08:36 AM
MUSTANGS SIGN FORMER DETROIT PISTON AS HEAD COACH
The Macomb County Mustangs of the International Basketball League have announced the signing of Terry Mills as the New Head Coach for the 2006 season. The Mustangs finished in 7th place in the East Division with a record of 4-16. The Mustangs parted ways with their Head Coach back in Mid August, team owner and president Bill Bullock immediately started talks with Mills. A 6-10 center-forward with impressive offensive skills, Terry Mills bounced around the NBA for a couple of seasons before finding a home with the Detroit Pistons, where he was a productive scorer for five seasons and developed into an outstanding three-point shooter. He signed with Miami for the 1997-98 season and played in 50 games as a reserve in his first season with the Heat, then was limited to just one game because of knee problems in 1998-99. He was re-signed by the Pistons on Sept. 20, 1999 and played in all 82 games for Detroit in 1999-2000, starting 78 of them at center. A native of Romulus, Mich., Mills is the nephew of John Long, who played with Detroit, Indiana and Atlanta Hawks from 1978 to 1991. He is also the cousin of NBA forward Grant Long. In college at Michigan, Mills helped the Wolverines to the 1989 NCAA Championship as a junior, teaming with Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson, Sean Higgins and Loy Vaught. As a senior Mills averaged 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds. The Milwaukee Bucks nabbed him in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft but then traded his rights to the Denver Nuggets for Danny Schayes. Mills split his rookie season between the Nuggets and the New Jersey Nets, averaging 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 55 games. After a solid second season, spent entirely with the Nets, Mills signed with the Detroit Pistons as a restricted free agent. The 1992-93 season marked Mills' emergence as a quality frontcourt player. In his first year with the Pistons, he averaged 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. One season later he upped his numbers significantly, leading the team in minutes and rebounding and finishing second in scoring to Joe Dumars. Mills continued to be a force on the inside for the Pistons in 1994-95 while also taking advantage of the closer three-point line to add the long-distance shot to his arsenal, hitting a career-high 109 three-pointers. Detroit's sixth man in 1995-96, Mills' scoring average dipped to 9.4 points per game but his .396 mark from three-point range was a career-high. He played the same role in 1996-97 and increased his scoring to 10.8 ppg and his three-point percentage to .422 on 175-for-415. All his three-point stats represented career highs. Prior to the 1997-98 season, Mills signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, giving the Heat another inside presence to go alongside Alonzo Mourning, Isaac Austin and Duane Causwell. He played in 50 games, all of the bench, and averaged a career-low 4.2 ppg. Knee injures limited him to just one game the following season. He rejoined the Pistons and played in all 82 games in 1999-2000, all but four of them as a starter. He averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and was second on the team in three-pointers and third in three-point accuracy. Mills is a first year coach and is looking forward to the opportunity. "I am really looking forward to turning this program around and making the Mustangs a big success" said Mills. "Any time you can add someone with Terry's background you know that this will be a special team to watch and he will bring us in the right players to make us a contender" said Bullock.
The Mustangs also are announcing the addition to the coaching staff with Al Littlejohn who was an Assistant Coach with the IBL Champions the Battle Creek Knights last season. Littlejohn also has been involved with AAU basketball for over 30 years and have coached over 40 kids who have or are currently playing in the NBA. "Al is such a knowledgeable guy, it seem like he knows every player in Michigan" said Bullock.
Mustangs also want to wish a special welcome back Assistant Coach Willie Betts who will be returning for his second season with the Mustangs.
Reminder: the Mustangs have found a new home court for the 2006 IBL season. The Mustangs new home court is St. Clement School in Centerline (the school is located off Van Dyke between 10 Mile Road and 11 Mile Road). St. Clement will hold all 10 home games for the Mustangs.
Mustang Season Tickets are now on sale adult season tickets are on sale for $60 and children 16 and under for $40. For more info or to order your tickets please call the Mustangs office at 586-206-4346 or visit the Mustangs web site at www.macombcountymustangs.com
For information on the International Basketball League, visit: http://www.iblhoopsonline.com
The Macomb County Mustangs of the International Basketball League have announced the signing of Terry Mills as the New Head Coach for the 2006 season. The Mustangs finished in 7th place in the East Division with a record of 4-16. The Mustangs parted ways with their Head Coach back in Mid August, team owner and president Bill Bullock immediately started talks with Mills. A 6-10 center-forward with impressive offensive skills, Terry Mills bounced around the NBA for a couple of seasons before finding a home with the Detroit Pistons, where he was a productive scorer for five seasons and developed into an outstanding three-point shooter. He signed with Miami for the 1997-98 season and played in 50 games as a reserve in his first season with the Heat, then was limited to just one game because of knee problems in 1998-99. He was re-signed by the Pistons on Sept. 20, 1999 and played in all 82 games for Detroit in 1999-2000, starting 78 of them at center. A native of Romulus, Mich., Mills is the nephew of John Long, who played with Detroit, Indiana and Atlanta Hawks from 1978 to 1991. He is also the cousin of NBA forward Grant Long. In college at Michigan, Mills helped the Wolverines to the 1989 NCAA Championship as a junior, teaming with Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson, Sean Higgins and Loy Vaught. As a senior Mills averaged 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds. The Milwaukee Bucks nabbed him in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft but then traded his rights to the Denver Nuggets for Danny Schayes. Mills split his rookie season between the Nuggets and the New Jersey Nets, averaging 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 55 games. After a solid second season, spent entirely with the Nets, Mills signed with the Detroit Pistons as a restricted free agent. The 1992-93 season marked Mills' emergence as a quality frontcourt player. In his first year with the Pistons, he averaged 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. One season later he upped his numbers significantly, leading the team in minutes and rebounding and finishing second in scoring to Joe Dumars. Mills continued to be a force on the inside for the Pistons in 1994-95 while also taking advantage of the closer three-point line to add the long-distance shot to his arsenal, hitting a career-high 109 three-pointers. Detroit's sixth man in 1995-96, Mills' scoring average dipped to 9.4 points per game but his .396 mark from three-point range was a career-high. He played the same role in 1996-97 and increased his scoring to 10.8 ppg and his three-point percentage to .422 on 175-for-415. All his three-point stats represented career highs. Prior to the 1997-98 season, Mills signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, giving the Heat another inside presence to go alongside Alonzo Mourning, Isaac Austin and Duane Causwell. He played in 50 games, all of the bench, and averaged a career-low 4.2 ppg. Knee injures limited him to just one game the following season. He rejoined the Pistons and played in all 82 games in 1999-2000, all but four of them as a starter. He averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and was second on the team in three-pointers and third in three-point accuracy. Mills is a first year coach and is looking forward to the opportunity. "I am really looking forward to turning this program around and making the Mustangs a big success" said Mills. "Any time you can add someone with Terry's background you know that this will be a special team to watch and he will bring us in the right players to make us a contender" said Bullock.
The Mustangs also are announcing the addition to the coaching staff with Al Littlejohn who was an Assistant Coach with the IBL Champions the Battle Creek Knights last season. Littlejohn also has been involved with AAU basketball for over 30 years and have coached over 40 kids who have or are currently playing in the NBA. "Al is such a knowledgeable guy, it seem like he knows every player in Michigan" said Bullock.
Mustangs also want to wish a special welcome back Assistant Coach Willie Betts who will be returning for his second season with the Mustangs.
Reminder: the Mustangs have found a new home court for the 2006 IBL season. The Mustangs new home court is St. Clement School in Centerline (the school is located off Van Dyke between 10 Mile Road and 11 Mile Road). St. Clement will hold all 10 home games for the Mustangs.
Mustang Season Tickets are now on sale adult season tickets are on sale for $60 and children 16 and under for $40. For more info or to order your tickets please call the Mustangs office at 586-206-4346 or visit the Mustangs web site at www.macombcountymustangs.com
For information on the International Basketball League, visit: http://www.iblhoopsonline.com