NBDL's Sam Vincent Named Head Coach of 2002 South African National Team
Published on January 8, 2003 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, January 8, 2002 - Sam Vincent, head coach of the National Basketball Development League's Mobile (Ala.) Revelers, was selected as head coach of the men's South African National Team, it was announced today by Vusi Mgobhozi, President of Basketball South Africa.
Vincent, a member of the 1986 NBA Champion Boston Celtics, will guide the South African National Team through the upcoming All Africa games qualifying event and the chase to secure a birth in the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece. He will begin his coaching responsibilities immediately following the NBDL season.
"I am honored to have been chosen as head coach to represent South Africa in the upcoming International events," said Vincent. "My goal is to establish South African basketball as a strong competitor in all future African competitions."
Vincent, who was named to his current position on May 9, 2001, in his second season as head coach of the Revelers in the NBDL where he has compiled a 39-37 overall record. During the NBDL's inaugural season, Vincent guided the team to a 30-26 mark and the fourth seed in the playoffs. The Revelers took on the number-one seeded North Charleston (S.C.) Lowgators in the first round, losing the best-of-three series two games to one.
Prior to his tenure in the NBDL, Vincent served as head coach of the Cape Town Kings in South Africa (1996-1998), where he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization including business administration, sponsorship sales, marketing and communications. After three seasons at Cape Town, he was named head coach for both the Men's and Women's South African Senior National Teams. In 1999-2000, Vincent coached in the Greek A-2 Men's Basketball League in Larissa, Greece, and was also head coach of Canoe Jeans in Den Bosch, Netherlands, in the A1 Dutch League.
Vincent played for seven years in the NBA and averaged 7.8 points per game and 3.9 assists per game with the Boston Celtics (1985-86 ? 1986-87), Seattle Supersonics (1987-88), Chicago Bulls (1987-88 ? 1988-89) and Orlando Magic (1989-90 ? 1991-92).
During his professional playing career, Sam played for renowned coaches K.C. Jones, Phil Jackson, Doug Collins and Matt Guokas, who have collectively amassed more than 1,600 wins and 11 championships as head coaches in the NBA.
A native of Lansing, Mich., Vincent played collegiately at Michigan State University where he averaged 16.8 ppg and earned team MVP honors in 1983-1985 and The Sporting News All-American Honors in 1985. He was also named MSU Media MVP in 1984 and 1985.
After his four-year collegiate career, where he finished sixth at MSU in career scoring, ninth in career assists and third in career steals, the Celtics selected Vincent in the first round (20th overall) of the 1985 NBA Draft.
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