Potapenko Named Assistant Coach
September 27, 2011 - NBA G League (G League)
Dakota Wizards News Release
Bismarck, N.D. (September 27, 2011) - The Dakota Wizards have hired Vitaly (vee-TAH-lee) Potapenko (poe-TAH-pen-koe) as the team's assistant coach, the team announced today. Potapenko will serve under newly hired Head Coach Nate Bjorkgren for the 2011-12 season.
Potapenko brings two years of coaching experience to the Wizards, having most recently served as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers this past season. In Indiana, under Head Coach Jim O'Brien and Interim Head Coach Frank Vogel, Potapenko helped lead the Pacers to a 37-45 record and a trip to the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
Prior to joining the Pacers, Potapenko served as an assistant coach for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League under Head Coach Joey Meyer during the 2009-10 season.
Potapenko was selected 12th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1996 NBA Draft. Nicknamed "The Ukraine Train", he averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds over 11 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics and the Sacramento Kings. His most productive season came in 1998-99 after being traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics on March 11, 1999. He averaged 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 33 games (32 starts) for the Celtics.
Prior to joining the NBA, Potapenko played for Budivelnyk (Ukraine) from 1992-1994 and finished his career playing for MMT Estudiantes in the Spanish ACB during the 2007-2008 season.
Potapenko, 36, was born in Kiev, USSR.
Both Potapenko and Bjorkgren will be at Dream Courts in Hayward, CA (22290 Hathaway Ave.) on Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. where the Dakota Wizards will hold open tryouts. For tryout information, visit www.dakotawizards.com.
Season tickets and 5-ticket flex packs for the 2011-12 season are on sale. Single game tickets will go on sale in early November. The home opener is set for Friday, Nov. 24 against the Los Angeles D-Fenders. For more information contact the Dakota Wizards at (701) 258-2255.
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from September 27, 2011
- Potapenko Named Assistant Coach - Dakota Wizards
- Phillips Jr. Signs with Mad Ants - Indiana Mad Ants
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.
