Wolf Blitzer's Embarrassing Moment With Tornado Survivor
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
The NBA Development League's Erie BayHawks named Jay Larranaga the team's next head coach, succeeding John Treloar (pictured) who was named the Director of Player Personnel for the Phoenix Suns last week.Larranaga, 35, had been hired as an assistant coach at Cornell University this spring but the chance to be the head coach in the D-League was apparently too good of an opportunity to pass up.
"I am extremely excited to be the new head coach of the Erie BayHawks. I am grateful that Steve Demetriou, Owen McCormick and the ownership group has selected me to continue the progress made by Coach Treloar," Larranaga said in a press release issued by the team. "Together with (assistant coach) Ben McDonald, Matt Bresee and the rest of the BayHawks staff and I will work tirelessly to ensure the success of our team and franchise."
Larranaga has apparently been on the Cleveland Cavaliers radar, the NBA affiliate of the BayHawks, for awhile as he spent time at the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2008 mini-camp with other top college assistants teaching and evaluating prospective free agents, according to his biography on the Cornell website.
Larranaga's coaching experience is rather limited compared to the typical D-League hire, as his only prior coaching experience is as the Irish National team's player-coach. His playing experience, however, includes 12 years of experience playing in the best leagues in Italy, Spain, Greece and France before retiring as a full-time player in 2009.
"Jay Larranaga fits exactly what we were looking for in our next head coach -- he's passionate about the game, a competitor, a winner and has a great basketball pedigree," BayHawks majority owner Steve Demetriou said in the release. "He understands what it takes to be successful and we're confident he and Ben McDonald will continue to move our team in the right direction."
It also seems he may have inherited solid coaching genes as Larranaga is the son of legendary George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga, whom Jay also played for at Bowling Green State University from 1993 to 1997. Jim has achieved an overall coaching record of 443-327 while coaching at American International College, Bowling Green and most recently George Mason during a career that began in 1977.
On a more trivial note, Larranaga was a teammate of President Obama for the renowned "President's Pick-Up Game" at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. according to the team's release.
Too-Big-To-Jail Dogs Obama's Justice Department
Obama To Reiterate Guantanamo Closure Pledge
'Corruption Of Blood' Bill Would Convict Lawbreakers' Kin
House Republicans Pass Bill To Speed Pipeline Approval
The 1 Chart That Reveals Just How Grossly Unfair The U.S. Tax System Has Become
LeBron Downs Pacers In OT
Strict Gun Control Measure Under Fire
Car Bomb Kills 12 In Pakistan
Man Reportedly Beheaded In Brutal Assault In London Neighborhood
You Just KNEW There Would Be 'Tornado Truthers,' Didn't You?
Abercrombie & Fitch: Sorry!
Japan Stocks Nosedive
Malaysian Man Accused Of Rape Marries 13-Year-Old Victim
Congressman: City Shouldn't Be 'Dumping Ground' For Koch-Owned Oil Waste Piles
A Merger Could Be On The Horizon For This Major Retailer
'Smart Guns' Could Allow Owners To Disable Remotely
Chicago Board OKs Largest Planned Public School Shutdown In U.S. History
Man Shot During Bombing Interview Made Shocking Confession: Report
The World's Most Valuable Brands
Officers May Have Deleted Cell Phone Video Of Fatal Police Beating
Cause Of Bangladesh Factory Collapse Revealed
John Boehner: Scandals Expose Obama Administration's 'Arrogance Of Power'
John Boehner: 'Looks To Me Like The IRS Has Got Something To Hide'
'That Over There Was My Room'
What Immigration Reform Opponents Don't Want You To Know
NY Times Eviscerates Obama White House
10 Children Confirmed Among The Dead After Oklahoma Tornado
Weiner Talks Comeback Bid
Oklahoma Senators Bailed Out On Tornado Aid By Bills They Opposed
Man Arrested In Ricin Scare: FBI
