Dawkins returns to ValleyDawgs
by ValleyDawgs Press Release
Published on December 10, 2001 under United States Basketball League (USBL)
DAWKINS RETURNS AS COACH; UNERA NAMED G.M.
ValleyDawgs Press Release
(Bethlehem, PA) - The Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs recently announced Head Coach Darryl Dawkins will return to guide the team for the 2002 season. The ValleyDawgs also announced Vice President Sam Unera will now assume the role of Vice President/General Manager.
The âDawgs captured the 2001 USBL championship, finishing with a 21-12 overall record. In three seasons in Pennsylvania, Dawkins has compiled a 59-32 (64.8%) overall record, the best mark of any USBL coach during that three-year span. In 1999, he was named USBL co-Coach Of The Year. In 2000, his team won the Northern Division Regular Season Title.
DAWKINS COACHING RECORD
YEAR REGULAR SEASON POST SEASON 1999 17- 8 1-1, USBL SEMIFINALS 2000 20-10 0-1, FIRST ROUND 2001 18-12 3-0, USBL CHAMPIONSHIP
"I am looking forward to another season here in the Lehigh Valley," said Dawkins, a 14 year NBA veteran, known for his colorful knick-names, including "Chocolate Thunder. "We think we can make another run at the title, and also continue to do a lot of things for the community. I thank our owner John Walson, and Vice President Sam Unera for giving me this opportunity to be a Head Coach."
In his new role, Unera will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the team, as well as player-personnel decisions. Unera has been a player-agent for over 20 years, and is known as the "Jerry McGuire Of The Philppines."
"We look forward to defending our championship," said Unera. "We want to put a product on the floor the Lehigh Valley can be proud of."
In addition, the ValleyDawgs have added Assistant Coach Rick Nash as a fulltime employee of the franchise. Nash will assist in player-personnel, college scouting, and community relations. Chick Craig remains with the team as a college scout, and Joe Heyer returns as the Director Of Public Relations, and radio play-by-play voice of the team. Heyer also handles ticketing, and corporate sponsorships.
United States Basketball League Stories from December 10, 2001
- Dawkins returns to ValleyDawgs - OSC Original by ValleyDawgs Press Release
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