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G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Vipers Announce 2014-15 Coaching Staff Additions

November 6, 2014 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release


MCALLEN, Texas, November 6, 2014 - The NBA Development League Rio Grande Valley Vipers today announced additions to their coaching staff for the 2014-15 season. Joining head coach Nevada Smith's staff this season are Chris Johnson as an assistant coach and Justin Jackson as the team's strength and conditioning coach. Jason Young has been promoted to assistant coach after serving as the team's video coordinator during the 2013-14 season. Also joining the basketball operations staff this season is Louis Twigg and Jake Hogberg.

Athletic trainer Long Lam returns for a second season. On the basketball operations side, Gianluca Pascucci returns as general manager. Jim Paulis is the team's assistant general manager and BJ Johnson returns as the director of player development.

Chris Johnson enters his first season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers as an assistant coach. Prior to joining the Vipers Chris was a player development coach for four years at Team Go Hard - Skills Factory, where he has worked with numerous NBA and international players. He has trained former Vipers player and 2013 championship team member Toure Murry (Utah Jazz) since 2010. He has also worked in player development at the John Lucas Enterprise NBA/ Pro Summer Development Program and was a head coach at the NBA Summer Pro-Am Houston.

Johnson also served as the head boys basketball coach at Clear Springs High School in League City, Texas from 2007-14. From 2004-07, he was the head boys basketball coach at LaMarque High School in LaMarque, Texas. Johnson was named District 24-5A Boys Basketball Coach of the year for the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2010-11 seasons.

Johnson played collegiately at Texas A&M University-Kingsville from 1998-2001. He garnered team Defensive Player of the Year (1999-2000) and Most Valuable Player (2000-01) awards, and served as team captain his senior season. Following his playing career, Johnson served as a graduate assistant for the Javelinas. From 1996-98, he played at Cisco Junior College. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and a Minor in Health and Sociology in 2001, and he also earned a Master of Science in Counseling and Guidance in 2003. Both degrees are from TAMUK.

Justin Jackson enters his first season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers as the team's head strength and conditioning coach. During the NBA D-League offseason, Jackson is an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Houston Rockets. Jackson spent the 2013-14 season with the NBA D-League Bakersfield Jam as a basketball operations intern. Prior to working for the Jam, Jackson was the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at CES Performance in Atlanta.

A 2008 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Jackson was a member of the basketball team from 2005-09, where he helped the Vols reach the Sweet Sixteen in 2007 and 2008, earn the SEC regular-season title in 2008 and the SEC Conference-Eastern Division Championship in 2006. While at Tennessee, Jackson served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, was a Vols Scholar recipient and an honor roll student. He received a Bachelors of Education in Sport Management. Jackson is a native of Fredericksburg, Va.

Jason Young enters his second season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and his first season as an assistant coach. Previously, Young spent the 2013-14 season as the team's basketball operations intern/video coordinator. Before joining the Vipers, Young spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Newberry College. From 2008-12, Young served as a student assistant coach at Ithaca College (N.Y.). Young has also worked in internal operations at Yale University and College. A New York City native, Young graduated cum laude with a degree in Sport Management from Ithaca College in 2012.

The Rio Grande Valley Vipers will hit the hardwood for the first time Nov. 10 when they host the NLBP's Fuerza Regia in an exhibition game at State Farm Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT). The 2014-15 regular season begins Nov. 14 and 15 when the Vipers host the Austin Spurs at home. For more information about the RGV Vipers 2014-15 season or to purchase season tickets, contact the Vipers at 956-972-1144.

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