CBA Awards Franchise In Pikeville
Published on July 6, 2007 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
ALBANY, NY (July 6, 2007) -- The Continental Basketball Association today announced that it has awarded an expansion to Pikeville, Kentucky and the Kentucky Expo Center for the 2007-08 season. The East Kentucky Miners, an expansion team in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), will play at the East Kentucky Expo Center, a state-of-the-art facility that ranks as one of Kentucky's premier multifunctional venues. When the East Kentucky Miners, a property of Trinity Sports & Entertainment Group, Inc., take the Expo Center hardwood in late-fall, one of Eastern Kentucky?s own will be guiding the expansion team. Floyd County native Kevin Keathley, 29, has been named head coach of the Miners.
Keathley brings with him a resume that includes an extreme amount of success as a coach and recruiter. Most recently, Keathley was an assistant coach of the Rio Grande (Texas) Silverados of the American Basketball Association (ABA). In 2006, Pro Basketball News (www.probasketballnews.com) touted Keathley as one of the Top 10 young coaches in America. Coach Keathley spent a great portion of his youth living near Pike County and is familiar with all of Eastern Kentucky.
"After being gone away 10 years, coaching collegiate and professionally, I was ecstatic when the opportunity came to return to Eastern Kentucky and coach," said Keathley. "I want to be here. I want to see Pikeville, Pike County, other surrounding counties and all of Eastern Kentucky jump onboard and call this professional basketball team their own. Combine the great ownership with Kentucky fans and their love for basketball and this is an excellent situation."
Ten-year NFL veteran Jay Fielder and South Florida entrepreneur Demetrius Ford co-founded Trinity Sports & Entertainment Group. Both individuals welcomed the opportunity to bring professional basketball to Eastern Kentucky. "We have literally found a diamond in the rough here in Pikeville," said Ford, Trinity's CEO. "The people of the city continue to amaze me with a level of support and excitement I've not seen anywhere else. They truly want this team here, and we're going to ensure we give them not only a great product on the court that they'll be proud to call their own, but also a constant flood of entertainment in the form of major concerts and other events that they've had to drive hours outside their city limits to experience in the past."
According to Jay Fiedler, "Pikeville is a small town with big aspirations to become the economic and entertainment center of Eastern Kentucky. You can tell from all the infrastructure development that significant growth is on the horizon. The people here are some of the hardest working I've had the pleasure to meet, and they deserve access to big city entertainment that will draw people from all over Eastern Kentucky and the neighboring states into the downtown area. We are pleased to become a major contributor in the continued growth of the area."
Steve St. John, General Manager of the Expo Center added, "This is exciting news for the Expo Center and all of Eastern Kentucky." I feel this is a step in the right direction for the Expo and the Community. The addition of the Miners to the event lineup for the upcoming years will help offer a well rounded base of family entertainment."
"This is another milestone day for the CBA," said CBA Acting Commissioner Jim Coyne. "The East Kentucky Miners fit in perfectly with what the CBA is trying to accomplish in the way of expansion cities being a certain size and being in prime locations. Pikeville fits that model in every way and we are glad to have them on board for the upcoming season."
"The Miners are a welcome addition to the CBA," stated CBA Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Truax. "Demetrius and Jay are fine owners who I know will bring a great product to Pikeville. They have hired a coach who is well connected in the community and they will be able to hit the ground running for the upcoming season."
The East Kentucky Miners website (www.ekminers.com) is currently under construction. Information on tryouts and employment opportunities will be made available at a later date.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from July 6, 2007
- Indiana Alley Cats To Find New Home - CBA 1
- CBA Awards Franchise In Pikeville - CBA 1
- Former UK Wildcats value experience of playing for Keathley, tout coach's abilities - East Kentucky Miners
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.
