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Murray Named Riverdragons Assistant Coach

October 13, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Columbus Riverdragons and the National Basketball Development League have named Dean Murray as assistant coach for the Riverdragons, according to an announcement by NBDL Director of Basketball Operations Chris Alpert. Murray replaces Rob Werdann, who accepted a position as an advance scout for the New Orleans Hornets.

Murray, a veteran of both the professional and college basketball ranks, recently finished a stint as head coach of a U.S.-China Cultural and Sports Exchange Association Summer Tour Team in China that featured former NBA and NBDL players. He is also familiar with the NBDL, having worked two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach for the Charleston Lowgators and served as a coach at the NBDL's Central Training Camp in 2001. In both of Murray's seasons with Charleston, the Lowgators appeared in the NBDL Playoffs.

"I'm excited about coming to Columbus and working with Coach Malone," said Murray. "This is a tremendous opportunity to develop players and bring winning basketball to Dragons fans throughout the Chattahoochee Valley."

Prior to the NBDL, Murray served in the professional basketball ranks as head coach of the Wilmington Waverockers of the Carolinas Basketball League (CBL) and an assistant on the staff of Neptunas Klaipeda in the Lithuanian Basketball League in 2002-03.

In addition to collegiate assistant coaching stops at North Florida (1999-2000), SUNY-Stony Brook (1996-99), Charleston Southern (1992-96) and Coastal Carolina (1989-92), Murray has also served as an officials observer for the Big South Conference during the 2000-01 season. He coached five different Big South Conference players of the year during stints at Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina.

A player at Appalachian State University from 1984-87, Murray began his coaching career as head coach at Topsail High School in Hempstead, N.C. Murray graduated from Appalachian State in 1988 and a earned a Master's degree in Education from the University of South Carolina in 1992.

"I'm very excited about Dean joining our staff," said Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone. "I had an opportunity to meet him two years ago and to see him work with Charleston over the last couple of years. I came away impressed. Dean has a terrific work ethic, is a great basketball guy, and I can't wait to work with him this season."

The Riverdragons open their 2004-05 home schedule on November 20 against the Huntsville Flight at the Columbus Civic Center. For more information about the Riverdragons 2004-05 season, log onto www.columbusriverdragons.com or contact Riverdragons Media Relations Manager, Tim Becwar, at (706) 225-1104 or tbecwar@nba.com. For more information on the NBDL, visit www.nbdl.com .



NBA G League Stories from October 13, 2004


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