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Buffalo Rapids name Richard L. Jacob GM and Head Coach

May 14, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Buffalo Silverbacks News Release


Buffalo, NY. The ABA Buffalo Rapids professional basketball team announced the signing of Richard L. Jacob as General Manager and Head Coach. The Buffalo Rapids' goal has been to bring to the city of Buffalo a basketball team made up of people who are excited about the game and the city. "Coach Jacob's passion for the game and Western New York roots made him the perfect choice for our head coach and GM," said team owner, Gary Nice. "I am confident that his vision, coaching and training expertise will bring about the necessary assets for a successful team."

A 1976 graduate of Bishop Duffy/Niagara Catholic High School, Coach Jacob remembers his journey as a student from Niagara County Community College (NCCC) to Eisenhower College onto Niagara University (NU) then Canisius College and finally as a Ph.D candidate at the University of Buffalo (UB).

The Buffalo Rapids Head Coach is now residing in Snyder, New York with his wife Rebecca Frandina and two children, JoAnna 17 and Vincent 15.

Jacob, a veteran college coach, has served the WNY basketball community for the past 25 years in various capacities. His coaching career reflects dedication to both the community and local institutions including NU, UB, Daemen College, NCCC, Villa Maria College and most recently, Buffalo State College and Medaille College. Currently, Coach Jacob serves as an assistant Professor and Sports Management Degree Coordinator at Medaille College. This September, Jacob is scheduled for a Ph.D Degree Conferral at the UB Graduate School of Education.

Known as a fierce competitor and a youth advocate, Coach Jacob has developed and operated a number of youth development programs which he says will continue to grow with the integration of the Buffalo Rapids into the community. "I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this enterprise," Jacob said. "I am calling on the community to embrace this tremendous opportunity."

For more information, email Gary Nice at gnice@buffalorapids.com or call 602 214 6644 or Coach Jacobs at rjacob@buffalorapids.com or 716 903 8053 or visit www.abalive.com. -

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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