Musselman wows St. Jean
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14263805p-15076621c.html
Garry St. Jean admits he could be biased, but he couldn't spew enough superlatives Friday after learning that the Kings were going to hire Eric Musselman as their head coach.
The Kings will introduce Musselman, 41, at a 1 p.m. news conference today at Arco Arena.
St. Jean, himself a former Kings head coach, was the Golden State Warriors' general manager in 2002 when he hired Musselman as his head coach.
Musselman had a 75-89 record in two seasons before he was fired by new Warriors executive Chris Mullin.
That record may not seem particularly impressive, but Golden State's 38 victories in his first season represented a 17-game improvement from the previous year. That performance alone showed St. Jean that Musselman had the ability to become a good NBA coach.
"I thought it was an excellent hire by those guys up there," St. Jean said Friday afternoon from his Bay Area home. "I realize I could be biased. Eric's strengths are preparation, intensity, defense and hard work."
St. Jean said he wasn't surprised that Musselman was impressive in two interviews with the Maloofs, the Kings' owners, and Geoff Petrie, president of basketball operations.
Mario Elie, a current Golden State assistant coach, was one of three candidates to interview for the chance to succeed Rick Adelman. Elie said Friday he was thrilled to have gone through the process. It was the first time he had interviewed for a head-coaching position.
"I received calls from Geoff and Gavin (Maloof), and they both were good," Elie said. "I think I did the best I could do during the interview. Musselman has been a coach before in the league, and he's undergone the interview process before. I think the Kings made a good choice because he's one of the good, up-and-coming young coaches in the league.
"I respect and appreciate them considering me for the position. Me being a young guy in this whole thing, I feel I'm close to becoming a head coach. I'm happy that it's over one way or the other, because it's a tough process waiting to see what's going to happen. I'm still happy to be here with the Warriors."
Elie said he was not taken aback by how quickly the Kings' process moved.
"I wasn't surprised because I felt they wanted someone in place with the draft coming up (June 28) and the predraft camp in Orlando next week," he said. "So I think it was important for them to get it done."
St. Jean said the Kings could not have hired a more prepared replacement.
"I'm sure that showed during the interview process," he said of Musselman's preparation. "When you interview, you have to have an in-depth analysis of the team and its individuals. You talk about the previous year and the draft position, the salary cap and what you think the team can accomplish."
Eric Musselman at a glance
Born: Nov. 19, 1964, in Ashland, Ohio.
College: University of San Diego (1987, bachelor's in political science).
High school: Brecksville (Ohio) High School.
Personal: Two sons, Michael and Matthew.
Head-coaching experience: Golden State Warriors, 2002-04.
NBA assistant coaching stops: Memphis (2004-06 under Mike Fratello), Atlanta and Orlando (1998-2000 under Chuck Daly and Doc Rivers), Minnesota (1990-91 under Bill Musselman, his late father).
CBA experience: Seven years as the head coach and the previous eight years as the general manager of the Florida Beach Dogs (which became the Rapid City Thrillers) of the Continental Basketball Association.
CBA coaching record: 270-122 (.688, second- highest winning percentage in league history behind Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl, who coached for five seasons in the CBA).
USBL experience: Served as head coach of the Florida Sharks of the United States Basketball League. In the summers of 1995 and 1996, he coached the Sharks to a combined 53-3 record (.946, including playoffs) and back-to-back championships.
Fast facts
• Bill and Eric Musselman became the first father/son head-coaching duo in NBA history.
• From 1990 to 1997, he had 24 players called up to the NBA, the highest number in the league during that span.
• First person in CBA history to coach in five league All-Star Games (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997).
• First coach in professional basketball history to win 100 games by the age of 28.
• At 23, became the youngest coach in CBA history.
• Holds the highest coaching winning percentage in league history.
• A three-time member of West Coast Athletic Conference all-academic squad as a player.
• Played in two NCAA Tournaments.
• Selected by the CBA's Albany Patroons in the fifth round (58th overall) of the 1987 draft.
• After graduating from San Diego, he took a front-office job with the Los Angeles Clippers before becoming assistant director of scouting.
Source: Memphis Grizzlies.
Musselman's head-coaching record at Golden State:
Season W-L Pct. Finish
2002-03 - 38-44 .463 6th
2003-04 - 37-45 .451 4th
Total - 75-89 .457
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14263805p-15076621c.html
Garry St. Jean admits he could be biased, but he couldn't spew enough superlatives Friday after learning that the Kings were going to hire Eric Musselman as their head coach.
The Kings will introduce Musselman, 41, at a 1 p.m. news conference today at Arco Arena.
St. Jean, himself a former Kings head coach, was the Golden State Warriors' general manager in 2002 when he hired Musselman as his head coach.
Musselman had a 75-89 record in two seasons before he was fired by new Warriors executive Chris Mullin.
That record may not seem particularly impressive, but Golden State's 38 victories in his first season represented a 17-game improvement from the previous year. That performance alone showed St. Jean that Musselman had the ability to become a good NBA coach.
"I thought it was an excellent hire by those guys up there," St. Jean said Friday afternoon from his Bay Area home. "I realize I could be biased. Eric's strengths are preparation, intensity, defense and hard work."
St. Jean said he wasn't surprised that Musselman was impressive in two interviews with the Maloofs, the Kings' owners, and Geoff Petrie, president of basketball operations.
Mario Elie, a current Golden State assistant coach, was one of three candidates to interview for the chance to succeed Rick Adelman. Elie said Friday he was thrilled to have gone through the process. It was the first time he had interviewed for a head-coaching position.
"I received calls from Geoff and Gavin (Maloof), and they both were good," Elie said. "I think I did the best I could do during the interview. Musselman has been a coach before in the league, and he's undergone the interview process before. I think the Kings made a good choice because he's one of the good, up-and-coming young coaches in the league.
"I respect and appreciate them considering me for the position. Me being a young guy in this whole thing, I feel I'm close to becoming a head coach. I'm happy that it's over one way or the other, because it's a tough process waiting to see what's going to happen. I'm still happy to be here with the Warriors."
Elie said he was not taken aback by how quickly the Kings' process moved.
"I wasn't surprised because I felt they wanted someone in place with the draft coming up (June 28) and the predraft camp in Orlando next week," he said. "So I think it was important for them to get it done."
St. Jean said the Kings could not have hired a more prepared replacement.
"I'm sure that showed during the interview process," he said of Musselman's preparation. "When you interview, you have to have an in-depth analysis of the team and its individuals. You talk about the previous year and the draft position, the salary cap and what you think the team can accomplish."
Eric Musselman at a glance
Born: Nov. 19, 1964, in Ashland, Ohio.
College: University of San Diego (1987, bachelor's in political science).
High school: Brecksville (Ohio) High School.
Personal: Two sons, Michael and Matthew.
Head-coaching experience: Golden State Warriors, 2002-04.
NBA assistant coaching stops: Memphis (2004-06 under Mike Fratello), Atlanta and Orlando (1998-2000 under Chuck Daly and Doc Rivers), Minnesota (1990-91 under Bill Musselman, his late father).
CBA experience: Seven years as the head coach and the previous eight years as the general manager of the Florida Beach Dogs (which became the Rapid City Thrillers) of the Continental Basketball Association.
CBA coaching record: 270-122 (.688, second- highest winning percentage in league history behind Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl, who coached for five seasons in the CBA).
USBL experience: Served as head coach of the Florida Sharks of the United States Basketball League. In the summers of 1995 and 1996, he coached the Sharks to a combined 53-3 record (.946, including playoffs) and back-to-back championships.
Fast facts
• Bill and Eric Musselman became the first father/son head-coaching duo in NBA history.
• From 1990 to 1997, he had 24 players called up to the NBA, the highest number in the league during that span.
• First person in CBA history to coach in five league All-Star Games (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997).
• First coach in professional basketball history to win 100 games by the age of 28.
• At 23, became the youngest coach in CBA history.
• Holds the highest coaching winning percentage in league history.
• A three-time member of West Coast Athletic Conference all-academic squad as a player.
• Played in two NCAA Tournaments.
• Selected by the CBA's Albany Patroons in the fifth round (58th overall) of the 1987 draft.
• After graduating from San Diego, he took a front-office job with the Los Angeles Clippers before becoming assistant director of scouting.
Source: Memphis Grizzlies.
Musselman's head-coaching record at Golden State:
Season W-L Pct. Finish
2002-03 - 38-44 .463 6th
2003-04 - 37-45 .451 4th
Total - 75-89 .457
