LB Jam head coach moves to NBA
December 1, 2003 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Maywood Laguneros News Release
LONG BEACH, CA - The American Basketball Association (ABA) Long Beach Jam franchise announced today the departure of Head Coach Paul Westhead to work as an assistant coach for the NBA's Orlando Magic. Earl Cureton will step up from his assistant role to become the new Jam head coach.
Cureton, who worked as Westhead's assistant both with the Los Angeles Stars (ABA 2000-01) and with the Jam, brings 13 years of NBA playing experience to his new lead role, including two NBA Championships (Philadelphia 76ers 1983, Houston Rockets 1994). He has spent the last five years as an assistant coach for teams in the USBL, CBA and ABA. Corey Gaines will increase his player/coach duties to become Cureton's lead assistant as well as maintaining his status as a rostered player.
Cureton takes the 1-0 Jam on a four-game road trip beginning tonight in Tijuana, Mexico as the Jam take on the Tijuana Diablos at the Auditorio Municipal at 7:30 p.m. The road trip continues again in Tijuana Saturday, Nov. 29 and ends with back-to-back games at Fresno against the HeatWave Dec. 1-2.
"We are happy to see Paul Westhead get another shot at coaching in the NBA," said Jam President Steve Chase. "I believed strongly when I signed him over the summer that he should be coaching at that level. I am confident that Earl Cureton will continue to lead us in the direction that Paul was taking us. There was really no other coach I considered as a replacement."
"This is a great opportunity for me," said new Jam Head Coach Earl Cureton. "I came to Long Beach because of coach Westhead and have enjoyed working with him. I have learned a lot from him and we think very similarly about the running game. We are not planning to make any changes in style of play or personnel and fans can expect to see the same things with our team out on the floor."
The Jam home opener against the Fresno HeatWave tips off Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Long Beach State Pyramid. Individual game tickets are on sale now and available for purchase by visiting the Long Beach State Pyramid box office, or by phone at 562-985-4949 and 888-4-JAM-TIX. Prices range from $5 for children, senior citizens and military, to $10-15 for reserved seating. Season and group tickets, including a special $25 "Jr. Jammers" season-long youth package (includes reserved seating at all home games, a t-shirt and free entry to all public youth clinics hosted by the Jam), may be purchased by calling the Long Beach Jam offices at 562-799-8100.
For more information about the Long Beach Jam, call 323-655-4286 or 562-799-8100. For the full league schedule and other ABA information, please 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.
American Basketball Association Stories from December 1, 2003
- LB Jam head coach moves to NBA - Maywood Laguneros
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