Sting name Muggsy Bogues head coach
August 3, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Charlotte Sting News Release
The Charlotte Sting today appointed Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues as the team's head coach, it was announced by Sting President & Chief Operating Officer Ed Tapscott. Trudi Lacey will remain with the organization in her role as the team's general manager.
"Muggsy Bogues brings a wealth of basketball knowledge and experience to our organization, in addition to tremendous fondness for the Charlotte community. In order to flourish as a NBA point guard on playoff-caliber teams, you have to possess vision, skill, decision-making, understanding and recognition of your teammates. These qualities we believe will make Muggsy the right person to start the rebuilding process for the Charlotte Sting. Successful coaches all have two essential ingredients, leadership and communications skills, and Muggsy possesses these qualities in abundance." Tapscott said. "We feel the Charlotte Sting will be in good hands with Head Coach Muggsy Bogues and Trudi Lacey, who has been a valuable part of our franchise for the last five years and will continue to serve the Sting well as general manager."
Bogues becomes the sixth head coach in Sting history and is a familiar figure in Charlotte. The 5-3 point guard enjoyed a 14-year NBA playing career, including nine-plus years in Charlotte as he was one of original members of the NBA in Charlotte in 1988 when the Hornets picked him in the Expansion Draft.
"I'm excited to be a part of the Charlotte Sting organization and look forward to the challenge that lies ahead. The opportunity to be a part of the impressive organization that Bob Johnson has put together means a great deal to me. I have great respect for Ed Tapscott and Trudi Lacey and appreciate their confidence in me," said Bogues.
"I have a great love for both the game of basketball and the Charlotte community and look forward to working with the Sting players in moving forward as a team for the remainder of the 2005 season. We have a great deal of work to do to restore the Sting's winning tradition as we prepare to move into the new uptown arena next summer. I look forward to the support of our fans as we take this next step in the Sting's history."
The top playing moments of his career came in Charlotte, as he averaged 10.8 points and 10.1 assists in 1993-94, a career-high 10.7 assists in 1989-90, a personal-best 11.1 points in 1994-95 and was regularly among the NBA leaders in assists, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio. He averaged 8.8 points, 8.8 assists and 1.7 steals during his nine-plus year tenure in Charlotte, up from his career averages of 7.7 points, 7.6 assists and 1.54 steals.
Bogues came to the region in 1983 when he enrolled at Wake Forest University and completed a four-year career with the Demon Deacons as the Atlantic Coast Conference's all-time leader in assists and steals (since surpassed by Chris Corchiani and Bobby Hurley). A native of Baltimore, Maryland, he attended famed Dunbar High School and was teammates with future NBA players Reggie Williams, Reggie Lewis and David Wingate.
Lacey joined the Sting prior to the 2001 season as assistant coach, was promoted to head coach and assistant general manager on February 13, 2003 and added the duties of general manager on November 19, 2003. She guided the Sting to the 2003 WNBA Playoffs and compiled a 37-55 record in three-plus seasons with the club.
"This is the right move for our organization as we work through the rebuilding process. The team has the talent and potential to restore our winning tradition and we will add two key elements with our two first round picks in next year's draft," Lacey said. "I look forward to working with Muggsy and our players to push the Sting back into the playoffs and provide our loyal fans with a team to take pride in, on and off the court."
Prior to joining the WNBA, Lacey was involved with USA Basketball as a player, coach and committee member. As assistant director of women's programs beginning in 1997, Lacey assisted in the development and implementation of all women's programs pertaining to trials, training camps and international competitions. She also worked closely with the Men's and Women's National Teams, where they both won gold medals during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Lacey's coaching career began at her alma mater, N.C. State, in 1983. She has also coached at the University of Maryland, the University of South Florida, NAIA Francis Marion College, Manhatten College and James Madison University.
The Sting host the Sacramento Monarchs on Thursday, August 4, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the Charlotte Coliseum Box Office, all TicketMaster locations, by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX or by logging onto www.charlottesting.com. Fans can also download a schedule and obtain further ticket information at www.charlottesting.com.
The Charlotte Bobcats Organization includes the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA), the Charlotte Sting (WNBA), and the New Charlotte Arena, opening in the fall of 2005.
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