duncan228
06-17-2010, 09:06 PM
Apache pursuing veteran coach Hill (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sk20100618n1.html)
By Ed Odeven
The Japan times
The Tokyo Apache would give the fledgling bj-league a major boost in respectability by bringing in a former NBA head coach for the first time.
The Apache, coming off a 22-30 season under now-fired bench boss Motofumi Aoki, have offered the job to veteran mentor Bob Hill, hoop insiders have told The Japan Times.
Call it a big, bold move by new Apache general manager Conor Neu, who is busy working the phones from Los Angeles as the team moves forward with its plans for next season.
Hill, who turns 62 in November, has previously coached the New York Knicks (1986-87), Indiana Pacers (1990-93), San Antonio Spurs (1994-96) and Seattle SuperSonics (2006-07).
Under Hill's tutelage, the Spurs had a league-high 62 wins and reached the Western Conference finals in 1995. Two seasons later, he was fired when the injury-plagued team (David Robinson and Sean Elliott) had a 3-15 record to open the campaign. (The Spurs were 121-43 in the previous two seasons.)
Then-general manager Gregg Popovich took over as the Spurs' head coach and remains in that position to this day.
Hill's overall NBA coaching record is 257-212.
He also coached Fordham University from 1999-2003, compiling a 36-78 record at the Atlantic-10 Conference school in New York City.
Hill, a native of Pittsburgh, played college ball at Bowling Green. He later served as an assistant coach at Kansas (1979-85) before accepting his first job in the pro ranks.
A member of the Oregon-based United States Basketball Academy's Advisory Board, Hill has remained an active participant in international basketball, working at camps in recent years. For instance, he ran the Chinese Basketball Association's 2005 international players draft.
In addition, he served as the NBA Development League's coaches consultant during the 2008-09 season.
"I love coaching," he said in a 2009 interview with NBA.com. "But I also enjoy helping younger coaches. That's part of the responsibility of having the experience I have."
By Ed Odeven
The Japan times
The Tokyo Apache would give the fledgling bj-league a major boost in respectability by bringing in a former NBA head coach for the first time.
The Apache, coming off a 22-30 season under now-fired bench boss Motofumi Aoki, have offered the job to veteran mentor Bob Hill, hoop insiders have told The Japan Times.
Call it a big, bold move by new Apache general manager Conor Neu, who is busy working the phones from Los Angeles as the team moves forward with its plans for next season.
Hill, who turns 62 in November, has previously coached the New York Knicks (1986-87), Indiana Pacers (1990-93), San Antonio Spurs (1994-96) and Seattle SuperSonics (2006-07).
Under Hill's tutelage, the Spurs had a league-high 62 wins and reached the Western Conference finals in 1995. Two seasons later, he was fired when the injury-plagued team (David Robinson and Sean Elliott) had a 3-15 record to open the campaign. (The Spurs were 121-43 in the previous two seasons.)
Then-general manager Gregg Popovich took over as the Spurs' head coach and remains in that position to this day.
Hill's overall NBA coaching record is 257-212.
He also coached Fordham University from 1999-2003, compiling a 36-78 record at the Atlantic-10 Conference school in New York City.
Hill, a native of Pittsburgh, played college ball at Bowling Green. He later served as an assistant coach at Kansas (1979-85) before accepting his first job in the pro ranks.
A member of the Oregon-based United States Basketball Academy's Advisory Board, Hill has remained an active participant in international basketball, working at camps in recent years. For instance, he ran the Chinese Basketball Association's 2005 international players draft.
In addition, he served as the NBA Development League's coaches consultant during the 2008-09 season.
"I love coaching," he said in a 2009 interview with NBA.com. "But I also enjoy helping younger coaches. That's part of the responsibility of having the experience I have."