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Albany Legends Announce New Head Coach

December 17, 2010 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Albany Legends News Release


Albany, New York - The Albany Legends are pleased to announce local product Ben Smith as the new Head Coach of the 2011 Albany Legends. Smith comes to the Legends with extensive coaching background that spans fifteen years at all levels including the professional ranks. Ben was a previous assistant and player development coach for the Albany Patroons of the CBA from 2005-2007 and the United Basketball League in 2007.

At the college level, Ben has coached Genesee Community College under Michael vonSchiller and at the NAIA level under Heath Olsen at Five Towns College where they reached the NSCAA National Small College Athletic Association's Final Four in 2001.

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, the 34 year old Smith graduated from Schalmont High School in 1994 and holds a BS Degree from SUNY Brockport and an MS in Educational Administration from UAlbany. Ben is currently a full time Phys Ed teacher at Niskayuna Central School District and is owner of Smith Player Development, LLC. Ben is married to his wife Samantha and has two children.

The Albany Legends are committed to providing quality and affordable professional basketball with community purpose and are confident that Ben Smith is just the right ingredient to lead the team to a continued level of legendary success. Vice President Bob Hord said "We are thrilled to have reached agreement with a quality coach, individual and community man like Ben Smith and he is just the guy to continue the great new minor league basketball tradition started right here in Albany. The Legends are also thankful to Derrick Rowland and for the success we shared in 2010 with our fans and accept his recent resignation respectfully. We wish him all the best at what we assume will be at the next level for his career."

Ben Smith remarked "This is a tremendous opportunity for me and I want to thank the Legends. This organization has established itself in such a short time and I am thrilled to be part of it. I am proud to be part of a group who believes basketball is a great way to not only entertain sports fans but is also a unique vehicle to reach and support the youth of our community. I look forward to being part of both important aspects and I can promise our fans that you will see a very high quality, exciting basketball team with a mix of championship returning players and new talent as well." Ben Smith can be reached at 518-470-5743.

The Legends will announce the 2011 home schedule and venue location in the coming days and weeks. Season Tickets are on sale now. Opening Night Friday April 15, 2011.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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