Tom Abatemarco returns

Published on February 3, 2004 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


SACRAMENTO, CALIF., February 3, 2004 – The Sacramento Monarchs today announced that former Interim Assistant Coach Tom Abatemarco will rejoin the team as the Monarchs assistant coach for the 2004 season. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Abatemarco will again take on duties in the Broadcasting Department for Maloof Sports & Entertainment (MS&E). Abatemarco, who left the franchise last September to pursue an assistant coaching position with the University of Utah Men's basketball program, will return to Sacramento upon the conclusion of the Utes' season.

"I'm very excited to return to the Monarchs," said Abatemarco. "I feel like Sacramento is my home and can't wait to return to the team and to an organization that has treated me so well in the past."

Last year, Abatemarco joined the Monarchs coaching staff midway through the 2003 WNBA Season along with then Interim Head Coach and Monarchs Assistant General Manager John Whisenant. Under the new coaching staff, the Monarchs were 12-4 and went on to compete in the Western Conference Finals.

Abatemarco, affectionately called "Coach T," brings extensive coaching experience to the Monarchs. Before his position at the University of Utah and his time at MS&E, Abatemarco was the head coach of Sacramento State's Men's Basketball team. Coach T has also served as an assistant at Rutgers University under Bob Wenzel. Prior to that, Abatemarco spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Colorado, Boulder, under Joe Harrington. From 1982-86, Coach T served as Jim Valvano's assistant at North Carolina where he was a member of the Wolfpack staff for the team's 1983 NCAA Championship. Additional coaching experience came as an assistant coaching at Virginia Tech (1981-82); Maryland under Lefty Driesell (1979-81); St. John's under Lou Carneseca (1978-79); Davidson (1977-78); Iona (1975-77); the New York Institute of Technology (1974-75) and his alma mater, Dowling College.

In addition to his head coach position at Sacramento State, Abatemarco served two terms as an NCAA Division I head coach at Lamar University (1986-88) and Drake University (1988-90).

"I'm pleased to have Tom Abatemarco back as the Monarchs assistant coach," said General Manager and Head Coach John Whisenant. "The players like him and he relates well with everyone. Coach T will be a great asset to the team, myself and the rest of the Monarchs staff."

Coach T also returns as a member of the Maloof Sports & Entertainment Broadcasting Department. Abatemarco was formerly the co-host of the Sacramento Kings Pre and Post-Game Show.

Fans are asked to call (916) 419-WNBA for information about season ticket plans and group ticket opportunities. For more information, please visit the team website at www.SacramentoMonarchs.com.

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