Steelheads' Jaren Jackson Named CBA Coach of the Year

Published on March 16, 2006 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release


GARY, Indiana (March 16, 2006) - Gary Steelheads coach Jaren Jackson was named today as Coach of the Year for the CBA's 60th Anniversary Season. Jackson was selected for the award based on a vote of the league's general managers. He is the first coach in franchise history to win the award.

The performance of the Gary Steelheads this season constitutes one of the great single-season turnarounds in CBA history. Last year, the Steelheads finished at the bottom of the league with a 17-31 record and 135½ quarter points (2.8 QPA). This year, Gary improved a net total of 24 games from 14 games under .500 to 10 games over .500 at 29-19. They raised their quarter point average to 4.10, an increase of 1.3 quarter points per game over the previous year. And the Steelheads won an incredible 25½ more quarters of basketball than a year ago.

Gary finished the season with a best-ever franchise record of 29-19. But this alone did not deliver the top seed in the playoffs. Yakama, Sioux Falls and Rockford all had more wins. But the Steelheads were more efficient than any other team in winning quarters. They won 110 quarters of basketball, six more quarters than any other team in the league. With each quarter having a value of one quarter point, this surplus of quarter victories made the difference.

"Jaren has done a remarkable job for us this year," said Jewell Harris Jr. Esq., Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. "The Gary Steelheads would not have had this level of success if it weren't for Coach Jackson's leadership. He has definitely proven to the basketball community that he is a very talented basketball coach who deserves an opportunity to coach at the next level. I am very happy for Coach Jackson and his family."

There were very few who could have predicted Gary's rise at the beginning of the season. When the Steelheads went to camp, only one player returned from a team that had four participants in the CBA All Star Game the previous year. The team was short on quality front court players. And a rookie CBA coach was at the helm.

At first the Steelheads struggled, particularly on the boards. But, despite rebounding deficits in excess of ten per game, Gary managed to win around fifty percent of their games into the month of December.

But the rebounding issue came to a head on December 3rd in a game with the Dakota Wizards at the Genesis Center. The Steelheads were outrebounded by 30, but somehow managed to prevail in overtime, 137-127. This ranks as one of the most incredible victories of this incredible season.

On December 21st, the Steelheads shored up their front line by acquiring center Chris Alexander from the Dakota Wizards and signing forward Edmund Saunders. The impact was immediate. Alexander made the CBA All Star team as a reserve, while Saunders played so well that the Steelheads were able to acquire All Star forward Carl Mitchell from Albany for Saunders on February 1st. Most importantly, the Steelheads won 22 of their next 33 games, following the December 21st acquisitions.

During the month of February, Gary put together the nine-game winning streak that elevated the Steelheads to the top of the CBA's Eastern Conference. The streak began on February 1st, as Gary achieved their first 7-point road win at Dakota, 113-97. At that time, Gary's quarter point average stood at 3.6. Rockford, sprinting at full speed with what would be an eight-game winning streak, weighed in at 4.5. Twenty-two days later, Gary improved to what was then the highest quarter point average in the CBA at 4.2. Rockford stood second in the league at 4.0. The last three wins in the streak came without the services of forward Randy Holcomb, MVP of the CBA All Star Game, who was sidelined for nine games with a groin injury.

The Steelheads won the CBA Eastern Conference for the first time in franchise history on Saturday, March 11th, in a 104-94 victory over the Michigan Mayhem. The moment came at the end of the third quarter, when the Steelheads earned ½ of a quarter point playing the Mayhem to a 23-23 tie. In the process, the Steelheads reached 193 quarter points, tying the maximum number that the Rockford Lightning could earn in their remaining game with Dakota. With the tiebreaker favoring Gary, the Steelheads won the East.

The Steelheads picked up four more quarter points for a season total of 197. Then it was a matter of waiting to see if the Sioux Falls Skyforce could catch them. When Sioux Falls had its 11-game win streak stopped at Idaho, followed by a loss the next night at Yakama, the Steelheads earned the number one seed for the playoffs. The Sun Kings vaulted over the Skyforce for the Western Conference crown.

A key to Jackson's success has been the ability to get the most out of his players. Guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter and forward Randy Holcomb have had outstanding all star seasons. Guard Eric Chatfield, a guard with solid scoring credentials, adjusted his game to a lead guard with superb results. Center Chris Alexander and power forward Carl Mitchell, both all stars, have anchored the front line.

When Hunter signed an overseas contract, guard Brian Chase picked up the standard and improved his output. Swingman Robert Griffin provided needed scoring punch and defensive play. That, combined with a solid lift from the Steelheads' bench, has made this season a season to remember.

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