Hollywood Fame Hire Don Casey as Head Coach
October 24, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Hollywood Fame News Release
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2006) - The Hollywood Fame of the American Basketball Association (ABA) have hired former NBA head coach Don Casey to serve in the same position with the new team, it was announced today by owner AJ DiScala. The team will open its inaugural season on Saturday, Nov. 11, in Las Vegas.
"We are thrilled to have a coach of Don Casey's caliber running our organization," DiScala said. "He will help us put the most competitive and crowd-pleasing team on the court. The Hollywood Fame is committed to winning and doing it in style. Casey will help us do both."
A noted basketball mind, Casey served as head coach at Temple University for nine years until 1982. He joined the Chicago Bulls for the 1982-83 campaign as an assistant and held the same title with the Clippers the following season. After a year away, he rejoined the Clippers as an assistant for the next three-plus seasons. On Jan. 19, 1989, Casey became the head coach for the balance of the season and all of 1989-90. From 1990-96, Casey served as the lead assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. Next, Casey was the lead assistant with the Nets for the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. Following a 3-17 start in 1998-99, Casey was promoted to head coach of the Nets for the balance of that abridged season and for the entire 1999-2000 season.
"I am looking forward to the journey at this stage of my coaching career," Casey said. "This will be an interesting adventure and I hope to be a part of bringing the ABA back to a level where the players benefit by being in this league. This is an excellent forum for players that still have some juice left. Hopefully we can expose them and allow them to move on to the next level while at the same time playing good basketball."
Despite his lengthy tenure in the NBA, Casey always will be known for his work outside of the bright lights.
Recently, Casey's goodwill reached international proportions as an ambassador for the NBA. In August 2003, he traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, and taught the pros and cons of zone defenses at a clinic introduced by the Lebanese Basketball Federation. A month later, he participated in the Africa 100 Camp, the first NBA-sanctioned clinic ever held in Africa.
Casey's humanitarian spirit is primarily focused on abolishing Lou Gehrig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). He serves as the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors of the Greater San Diego Chapter, in addition to being a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater New York Chapter.
Born in Collingswood, N.J., Casey attended Camden Catholic High School in Camden, N.J., and graduated from Temple University in 1970. He currently resides in San Diego, Calif., with his wife, Dwynne. They are the proud parents of Michael and Lee Ann, and grandparents to Jack Sean Patrick.
Along with DiScala, the Fame are owned by a host of celebrities including Nick Lachey, Geoff Stults ("7th Heaven" and "The Break-Up"), Stacy Keibler ("Dancing With the Stars"), former NBA legend John Salley, former MLB All-Star Brady Anderson, the Atlanta Braves Mike Hampton, NFL quarterback Kyle Boller of the Baltimore Ravens and NASCAR's Brian Vickers, among others.
For tickets and sponsorship information, call 866-599-FAME.
More details on "The Hollywood Fame" can be found on their website at www.thehollywoodfame.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.
American Basketball Association Stories from October 24, 2006
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- Rockstars kick off veterans camp - Chicago Rockstars
- Hollywood Fame Hire Don Casey as Head Coach - Hollywood Fame
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- Pearls announce roster - Baltimore Pearls
- Miracles announce Thomas Winterstein ABA Basketball Classic - Mississippi Miracles
- Nighthawks to play fundraiser game - Maryland NightHawks
- ABA to play in Corning, NY in 2007 - ABA
- Champions to hold dance team tryouts - Anderson Champions
- Noise ready for training camp - Knoxville Noise
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