Steelheads name Jaren Jackson head coach
July 29, 2005 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
Gary, IN: The Gary Steelheads took another step forward today, as they hired 13 year NBA veteran Jaren Jackson as their fifth head coach in team history. The Steelheads also announced the hiring of Bryan Gates to an assistant coaching position for the upcoming 2005-2006 season. Terms of both agreements are confidential, as per team policy.
Jackson comes to the Steelheads via the Philadelphia Fusion of the ABA, were he was the Head Coach in 2004-2005. Prior to his time with the Fusion, Jackson spent a season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Georgetown in 2003-2004. As a player at Georgetown, 1986-1989, the 6-4 Jackson improved in scoring in each year, starting all 34 games as a senior and averaged 12.5 points per game as the Hoyas advanced to the Big East title and the NCAA Elite Eight. Jackson averaged 7.5 ppg over his college career and in 1989 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance at Georgetown University.
Jaren began his professional basketball career as a rookie free agent in 1989 in the National Basketball Association. He continued to establish a solid career with stints on nine NBA teams, four Continental Basketball Association teams, and a World Basketball League team. His professional basketball honors included being a member of a WBL championship team, two CBA championship teams, 1990-91 (Wichita Falls) and 1991-92 (LaCrosse), and the 1999 NBA World Championship team (San Antonio Spurs). Jackson averaged 5.5 points a game in his NBA career. Jackson averaged 15.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 2.8 apg in 154 career CBA games.
Jaren attended Walter L. Cohen Senior High School in New Orleans, LA and was the Senior Class Valedictorian in 1985. He also led his high school senior varsity basketball team to its first ever appearance in the Quad A Louisiana State Basketball Championship. Jaren is the husband of another Georgetown graduate Terri Carmichael Jackson and proud father of 5 year old Jaren Jackson Jr. They currently reside in Silver Spring, MD.
Bryan Gates returns to the CBA after a season spent in Lebanon as the Head Coach of the Blue Stars. Prior to his time in Lebanon, Gates was the assistant coach for the Idaho Stampede for four seasons, starting in 1999. In the 2003-2004 CBA season, Gates was on the bench as the Stampede made it to the CBA Finals, before losing to the Dakota Wizards. Gates has coached under Russ Bergman, Rory White, and Larry Krystkowiak.
Gates also has extensive head coaching experience that will come in handy for the Steelheads. Gates has spent four seasons in the United States Basketball League (USBL) as a Head Coach, three with the Oklahoma Storm. In 2000 Gates led the Storm to the USBL Championship game. In 2001 and 2004 Gates' Storm were the Midwest Division Champions of the USBL. In 2003 Gates coached the Hickory Nuts of the Carolina Basketball League (CBL) to a perfect season (28-0) and was named the Coach of the Year.
"We are very happy to have Jaren and Bryan on board with us for the 2005-2006 CBA season," said Steelheads Owner Jewell Harris, Sr. "These are both capable men who have shown that they are hard working and willing to do what it takes to get the job done."
"Jaren played in the NBA for a long time and then made the transition to the bench at Georgetown. He played 13 years in the NBA, but had to work hard to get there. I know that he had to spend some time in the CBA and he knows what we are all about. The Gary community and all of Northwest Indiana will be very impressed with Jaren. Bryan has extensive coaching experience and is a known commodity in the CBA. He was responsible for putting together some very good teams in the CBA with Idaho and his head coaching record in the USBL speaks for itself. Bryan is a valuable and important piece to the puzzle for the Steelheads this season," said Harris, Sr.
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Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from July 29, 2005
- Steelheads release 2005-06 schedule - Gary Steelheads
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- Steelheads name Jaren Jackson head coach - Gary Steelheads
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