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Sam Vincent Arsenal Head Coach

July 30, 2008 - NBA G League (G League)
Anaheim Arsenal News Release


Anaheim, Calif., July 30, 2008 - Former NBA Head Coach Sam Vincent was named the new head coach of the Anaheim Arsenal yesterday during a press conference at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney.

The Anaheim Arsenal is Vincent's latest stop in his distinguished basketball career which has included coaching stints with the Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Bobcats, Mobile Revelers, Fort Worth Flyers and several international teams.

Last season, Vincent made NBA and NBA Development League history as the first former NBA Development League coach to be named the head coach of an NBA team when Michael Jordan, the team's president of basketball operations and a former teammate of Vincent's, chose him to lead the Charlotte Bobcats. During his tenure in Charlotte, Vincent helped the squad to the longest winning streak in franchise history, a five-game stretch in early March that included four victories against playoff teams.

Vincent's head coaching career began in 1996 with the Cape Town Kings in South Africa, where Vincent was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization, including business administration, sponsorship sales, marketing and communications. After three seasons with Cape Town, Vincent would accept the head coaching position of both the men's and women's South African senior national teams. Vincent also coached in the Greek A-2 men's basketball league and with the Canoe Jeans in Den Bosch, Netherlands, in the A1 Dutch league before being named head coach of the Nigerian women's national team. He led the squad to its first FIBA Africa championship in December 2003, earning a berth at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. In Athens, Vincent guided the Nigerian team to the first Olympic victory by an African women's basketball team, defeating South Korea 68-64. Vincent also served as head coach for the Nigerian men's national team, leading the team to a bronze medal during the 2005 FIBA Africa championships and an 82-75 upset win over powerhouse Serbia and Montenegro during the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

Vincent had his first NBA coaching experience with the Dallas Mavericks during the Toshiba Vegas Summer League in 2006. He then went on to serve as an assistant coach under Avery Johnson during the 2006 - 2007 season. As a member of Johnson's staff, he was a part of a Mavericks team that won a league-best 67 games during the regular season.

Sam Vincent's first experience with the NBA Development League came in the inaugural season of 2001-02 as head coach of Mobile Revelers. During his second season with the Revelers, Vincent coached the fourth-seeded squad to their first NBA Development League championship. He returned to the NBA Development League in 2005 as head coach of the Fort Worth Flyers, steering the team to a league-best 28-20 record in 2005-06 and advancing to the championship game.

Vincent was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first-round (20th overall) of the 1985 NBA Draft. As a rookie he helped the Celtics win an NBA championship. The very next season, the Celtics would make another NBA Finals appearance in Vincent's sophomore year. After spending part of the 1987-88 season with the Seattle SuperSonics, Vincent was traded to the Chicago Bulls and averaged 13 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, while starting 27 games and helping the Bulls to the playoffs. Vincent started 56 of the 70 games he played the following season as the Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. Chosen in the expansion draft by the Orlando Magic after the 1989-90 season, he averaged 11.2 points, 5.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game for the Magic during the team's inaugural season in the league.

A seven-year NBA veteran, Vincent followed his playing career up with a position as a special advisor to Reggie Williams, Vice President of Disney's Wide World of Sports. In this capacity, Vincent was responsible for attracting major sporting events to the Orlando area.

A native of Lansing, Mich., Sam Vincent was named Michigan's first "Mr. Basketball" in 1981. A standout at Michigan State University, he averaged 16.8 points per game for the Spartans, was named team MVP from 1983 to 1985 and was recognized by The Sporting News as an All-American in 1985. A two-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree, he ranks sixth in career scoring, ninth in career assists and third in career steals for Michigan State.

Vincent now brings his extensive NBA, NBA Development League and international coaching experience to the Anaheim Arsenal.

Vincent and his wife, Lisa, have three children: Fabian, 13; Jordique, 6; and Jaren, 2.



NBA G League Stories from July 30, 2008


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