Heat Wave announce new coach
August 6, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Sacramento Heatwave News Release
Fresno, CA. The ABA Fresno Heatwave professional basketball team has hired one of the ABA's best coaches to lead its team into action for the 2005-2006 season. Coach Steve Tucker, who last season led the Texas Tycoons to prominence in the ABA has inked a contract with the Heatwave to become their new Director of Basketball Operations and Head Coach. Tucker led the Tycoons to a 21-10 overall record and a #4 Power Ranking in the ABA during the 2004-2005 season. Tucker was also selected as one of the coaches for the ABA All Star Game that was held in Las Vegas.
The Tycoons were one of the top teams in the ABA last season and many favor the team to be a frontrunner to win the ABA Championship in 05-06. Yet, Tucker surprisingly chose to move from Texas to Northern California to rebuild the Heatwave. "I just fel it was a good fit for me after visiting with Heatwave owner, Reggie Davis. Reggie and his partner, Greg Chambers, really impressed me with their commitment to build the Heatwave into the premiere team in the ABA. I just felt my skills better fit this situation both administratively and on the court. We had a great year in Texas last season with the Tycoons and I want to thank Tycoons owner Charles Key for the wonderful way he treated me while I was there. I definitely wishe them the best of luck in the future, but my commitment now is to make the Fresno Heatwave the premiere team in the ABA. I truly believe that we can get that done and give the basketball fans of Fresno and surrounding areas a professional basketball team that they can be proud of for years to come.
Tucker will assume his duties immediately for the Heatwave. He plans to make his home in the Fresno area and plans to get involved in the community through various basketball and non-basketball activities.
Heatwave owner Reggie Davis said, "The Heatwave fans of Fresno and the surrounding areas will be treated to the highest quality of ABA basketball they've ever seen. It will be like watching it in HD. Coach Tucker can energize and impact a team and an organization like that. He is a great fit for Fresno and the Central Valley communities. We are thrilled to have him in the Heatwave organization."
Tucker has been named Coach of the Year 6 times, led teams to 9 League or Conference Championships, All-Time Winningest Coach in Hawaii Loan College History as well as All-Time Winningest Coach in Athletes in Action History, Gold Medalist in the 1982 Micronesian Games representing AIA-USA, Has led teams to the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA National Championship tournaments and has won championships on the pro, international and collegiate levels. For more information, email jigejag7@yahoo.com or visit www.abalive.com.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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