CBA Alum Now NBA Coaches

Published on October 24, 2002 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release

Boise, Idaho (October 24, 2002)— The National Basketball Association launches its 2002-03 campaign October 29 with 38 head and/or assistant coaches with Continental Basketball Association coaching or playing experience.

With an entire coaching staff of CBA veterans, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the most alums with four. The Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors each have three, while the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Memphis Grizzlies feature two former CBA players or coaches on their staffs.

NBA great Dennis Johnson and CBA coaching legend Morris "Mo" McHone make up one-half of the Clippers' assistant coaching crew. Johnson earned Coach of the Month honors for January with the La Crosse Bobcats during the 1999-2000 season. McHone compiled a 229-168 (.577) record as a CBA head coach with four different teams (Birmingham, Fort Wayne, Yakima, and Sioux Falls). He won back-to-back CBA championships, in 1995 with Yakima and 1996 in Sioux Falls, and two Coach of the Year awards, in 1995 and 1997 with Sioux Falls.

The 1993-94 Quad City coaching duo of Dan Panaggio and Maurice Cheeks patrol the sidelines in Portland with reversed roles. Cheeks, a CBA assistant under Panaggio, was hired as the Blazers head man in June, 2001 and chose his former boss as his first assistant coach.

"The CBA is the best training ground for professional coaches anywhere, nothing comes close," said Panaggio, who's 213 wins (.621) trail only his father, Mauro Panaggio's 446 wins (.604). Third on the list is first-year Golden State Warriors Head Coach Eric Musselman (270-122, .689).

"One good thing about the CBA is the quarter point system; it allowed the coach to have four mini games within one game. It put enormous pressure on the coaches," said Musselman. "I kind of feel like I'm still part of the CBA family and always will be."

Mark Hughes, who earned two CBA Coach of the Month awards in 2001-02 after leading the Grand Rapids Hoops to a 30-26 (.536) finish, is the most recent product of the CBA coaching school, having been named an assistant with the Orlando Magic on August 23. "The CBA is a great training ground for coaches, not just for players," said Hughes. "What a great time I've had with Hoops; five years as a head coach gave me tremendous experience for a lot of different situations."

In 1984, nine-time NBA championship head coach Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers won his first ring from the sidelines with the CBA's Albany Patroons. He took home Coach of the Year honors in 1985 and compiled a .565 (117-90) winning percentage in five seasons with the Patroons. Bucks Head Coach George Karl is the most decorated alumnus with three CBA Coach of the Year awards (198119831991) and a .727 (176-66) career winning percentage. Karl coached in the CBA for five seasons with Albany and the Montana Golden Nuggets. Timberwolves Head Coach Flip Saunders coached seven years in the CBA (.649, 253-137) with the Rapid City Thrillers, La Crosse Catbirds and Sioux Falls Skyforce. He was awarded the CBA Coach of the Year trophy twice (19891992) and led La Crosse to championship crowns in 1990 and 1992.

Former CBA players or coaches on 2002-03 NBA Coaching Staffs

Former CBA players/coaches on NBA coaching staffs: 38
Head Coach positions help by former CBA players/coaches in 2002-03: 9
Assistant coach positions help by former CBA players/coaches in 2002-03: 29

Atlanta Hawks (2): Steve Henson, Terry Stotts (assistants).
Boston Celtics (1): Lester Conner (assistant).
Chicago Bulls (3): Norm Ellenberger, Pete Myers, Bob Thornton (assistants).
Cleveland Cavaliers (4): John Lucas (head), Jerry Eaves, Ron Ekker, Keith Smart (assistants).
Detroit Pistons (2): Rick Carlisle (head), Tony Brown (assistant).
Golden State Warriors (2): Eric Musselman (head), Mark Osowski (assistant).
Los Angeles Clippers (2): Dennis Johnson, Morris McHone (assistants).
Los Angeles Lakers (1): Phil Jackson (head).
Memphis Grizzlies (2): Sidney Lowe (head), Scott Roth (assistant).
Milwaukee Bucks (3): George Karl (head), Sam Mitchell, Don Newman (assistants).
Minnesota Timberwolves (3): Flip Saunders (head), Greg Ballard, Don Zierden (assistants).
New Jersey Nets (1): Eddie Jordan (assistant).
New Orleans Hornets (1): Paul Silas (head).
Orlando Magic (1): Mark Hughes (assistant).
Phoenix Suns (1): Marc Iavaroni (assistant).
Portland Trail Blazers (3): Maurice Cheeks (head), Herb Brown, Dan Panaggio (assistants).
Sacramento Kings (1): Elston Turner (assistant).
Seattle Supersonics (1): Bob Weiss (assistant).
Toronto Raptors (3): Stan Albeck, Craig Neal, Walker Russell (assistants).
Utah Jazz (1): Kenny Natt (assistant).

Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from October 24, 2002

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• CBA Alum Now NBA Coaches - CBA 1

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