CBA veteran coach returns to the league
September 14, 2004 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
Boise, ID (September 14, 2004) â After four seasons away from the Continental Basketball Association, former Head Coach Russ Bergman will return to the league this season as the head coach of the Great Lakes Storm, it was announced Tuesday by the franchise. Bergman will lead the Storm into their third season in the CBA.
"I am extremely excited to be back on a CBA bench with the Great Lakes Storm," stated Bergman, who led the Oklahoma City Cavalry to a CBA Title during the 1996-97 season. "I have aspirations of having a winning season and getting this franchise into the playoffs for the first time in its young history. I also hope to help some of my players reach their ultimate dream of making it to the NBA."
Bergman joins the Storm with an impressive coaching resume that includes success in both the college and professional ranks. He began as an assistant coach at Appalachian State, serving under his college coach Press Maravich, before he was named Head Coach at Coastal Carolina in 1975. During 19 seasons at Coastal Carolina, he compiled a record of 306-246 (.554), and is ranked second on the Big South Conference's All-Time Wins list with a record of 149-112 (in eight seasons after moving from NAIA to NCAA Division I). He also earned Big South Coach of the Year honors on three different occasions, and twice led the Chanticleers to the NCAA Tournament (1991 and 1993).
In 1994 Bergman left Coastal Carolina to become the head coach of the CBA's Oklahoma City Cavalry. In three seasons with Oklahoma City, Bergman took the Cavalry to the CBA playoffs all three years, reaching the conference finals in 1995 and capturing the CBA Championship in 1997 (defeating the Florida Beachdogs in six games). Bergman was named Head Coach for the National Conference All-Stars in 1996 and led the team to a 121-106 win over the American Conference All-Stars.
The Raymond, Illinois native later took over as Head Coach and Director of Basketball Operations for the Idaho Stampede prior to the 1998-99 season. He led the Stampede to the playoffs in his first season with the franchise, while also helping his players combine for a record 10 CBA-to-NBA call-ups during the 98-99 campaign.
In September of 2000, Bergman accepted a job with the Utah Jazz as an advance and talent scout, where he was in charge of scouting players in the southeastern part of the United States.
He currently ranks 15th on the CBA's All-Time Coaches Winning Percentage list at .532 (133-117), while he also ranks 15th in CBA Playoff victories (17), and 13th in Playoff Winning Percentage (.515). A total of 25 CBA players have been called up to the NBA under his direction.
Bergman's Great Lakes Storm tips off the 2004-05 CBA season on Friday, November 19, as they face the expansion Michigan Mayhem at the L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Michigan.
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