Manchester Millrats Name Heath Teixeira Head Coach
September 8, 2009 - Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Saint John Riptide News Release
(Manchester, New Hampshire): The Manchester Millrats are pleased to announce that Heath "Noopy" Teixeira has been named Head Coach for the upcoming Premier Basketball League season, which starts in January.
Teixiera had been an Assistant Coach during the previous two seasons, serving under Rob Spon (2008-09) and Larry Lessett (2007-8). Before joining the Millrats, he was an Assistant Coach with the Cape Cod Frenzy, and even played in several games with the ABA's Boston Frenzy.
It was Teixeira who took over for Lessett after he was ejected during the Millrats first road game at Vermont in 2007. Beginning the 2nd quarter with the Millrats trailing 41-14 and with several players also ejected, Teixiera engineered an improbable come-from-behind road victory against the Vermont Frost Heaves and now D-League Coach Will Voigt.
Back in 1990 and 1991, as a point guard, Texeira led the Harwich (Cape Cod) Roughriders to back-to-back Massachusetts State championship game appearances in the old Boston Garden, under legendary Cape Coach Glen Rose.
"Coach Teixeira has been with us since the inception and knows what we are trying to do here, and how to do it," said Millrats GM Ian McCarthy. "He has grown as a professional and as a person while working as an assistant and we feel he is now ready for the position."
The Millrats won the Atlantic Division title last season under Rob Spon, with a 16-4 record. They challenged Rochester for a title but ultimately fell shy of the ultimate goal. Teixeira knows he has big shoes to fill, but looks forward to the challenge and the opportunity.
"I'm looking forward to continuing to help train and develop young players, to help foster their career overseas, and to help the Millrats be prepared to execute and win PBL games," stated Teixeira.
The process of filling the new roster begins on September 27th in Rockville, MD. Heath Teixiera and other Millrats staff plan to be attending the PBL's national tryout combine there to scout for talent. Then on Oct 24th and 25th, the Millrats will be conducting their own - the "2nd Annual NH Exposure Combine" will be held at the SportsZone in Derry, NH and is open to the public. The PBL is also holding a draft in Chicago in October.
Premier Basketball League Stories from September 8, 2009
- Manchester Millrats Name Heath Teixeira Head Coach - Saint John Riptide
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
