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Florence Flyers announce Bryan Gates as head coach for inaugural season

February 20, 2004 - United States Basketball League (USBL) News Release


MILFORD, CT – The United States Basketball League, Inc., in conjunction with the Florence Flyers announced today that Bryan Gates will be returning to the coaching sidelines in the USBL as he has agreed in principal to be the Head Coach for the inaugural Flyers.

Gates brings a solid background in coaching and administration to the Flyers organization. He has been with the Idaho Stampede of the CBA since day one. He has also been involved with the Rapid City Thrillers of the defunct IBA as a assistant general manager and assistant coach and this past year guided the Hickory Nuts of the CBL to a perfect 23-0 record for which he was named Coach of the Year.

Gates time in the USBL is no less impressive. As head coach of the expansion Oklahoma Storm in 2000, Gates took the team to the Championship Game where he met fellow a expansion team and eventual champion Dodge City Legend. This was the first time an expansion team had been in the finals of the USBL Championship game since 1993.

Gates followed up his outstanding rookie season in the USBL with a 20-10 regular season record, best in the USBL in 2001. The Storm featured USBL MVP Aubrey Reese and the shot blocking exploits of Johnny Tyson all season long, but was bit by the injury bug as MVP Reese was injured going into Festival play and was upset in the Opening Round.

"I am very happy and honored to be the new Head Coach of the Florence Flyers. I feel that this is a great situation for me both professionally and personally. I look forward to working with Jeff Burns and the entire Florence Flyers staff to bring exciting and enjoyable basketball to the Florence community," stated Gates.

"Bryan is an excellent Head Coach and will bring the needed experience to the Florence franchise. Being that he has been through a season as an expansion team Head Coach, and was successful doing that, and had added success the following season, the Florence Flyers couldn't have made a better choice as a Head Coach," stated USBL Founder and Commissioner Daniel T. Meisenheimer III.

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