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BY AL HAMNIK
ahamnik@nwitimes.com
219.933.4154 | Saturday, July 30, 2005 | (No comments posted.)
PRO BASKETBALL | STEELHEADS COACH
GARY | The first thing you notice about Jaren Jackson is the orange-sized 1999 San Antonio Spurs NBA championship ring he wears on his right hand.
And then you see a smile that lights up the room.
And then there's his background: Four years at Georgetown with Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo; parts of 12 seasons in the NBA; CBA championships while playing for Flip Saunders and Mike Davis.
Friday afternoon, Gary opened its arms to Jackson, 37, as new head coach of the Steelheads CBA franchise during a luncheon at the Genesis Convention Center.
"Don't think it," he said of the team's expectations this season. "Just know it.
"I expect great things to happen."
The Steelheads were 17-31 last season, losing 20 games by nine points or less. Coach Duane Ticknor quit at midseason for health reasons and the team never seemed to recover.
Friday's gathering included season ticket holders, corporate sponsors, fans and a few shareholders. Team owner Jewell Harris Sr. reiterated that he is passionate about keeping professional basketball in Northwest Indiana, and while he spoke, a tape of the 2005 CBA All-Star game in Gary was shown on the scoreboard above center court.
"More than me wanting to be in the NBA at some point as a coach, I'll be more excited to see a lot of these players with NBA aspirations get their opportunities like I did," said Jackson, who signed a one-year contract, terms of which were not disclosed.
"Winning is priority one, so they should all excel individually. What I've learned in the past is, teams that win have a legitimate opportunity to get (players) called up. Very seldom do players on a team that's not doing well get opportunities to go to the NBA."
Gary had no call-ups last season.
Jackson, a New Orleans native, said he looks forward to being out in the community, running youth camps, visiting schools and meeting the general public as the Steelheads' goodwill ambassador.
Upon hearing that, former East Chicago city judge Lonnie Randolph stood up and proudly announced, "My son has graduated from Drake and he's hired an agent 'cause he wants to do the right thing.
"Will the Steelheads do the right thing and take a look at him?"
Lonnie Randolph Jr. starred at Merrillville.
"Results matter and consequences take place," Jackson said. "I felt that as a player and I've been on a number of different teams. I've been cut many times. I've been released. I've been selected.
"I've been all over the world playing ball, and I've looked forward to being a coach for a long time at the pro level, so we'll see what happens. I'm excited to be here."
The Jaren Jackson file
College: Georgetown, class of 1989.
Residence: Silver Spring, Md.
Age: 38.
Coaching background: Georgetown assistant (2003-04), ABA Philadelphia Fusion
head coach (2004-05).
NBA background: Played for New Jersey, Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers,
Portland, Philadelphia, Houston, Washington, San Antonio, Orlando. Started 79
of 470 career games, averaging 5.5 ppg.
CBA background: Played for Witchita Falls Texans, LaCrosse Catbirds and Fort
Wayne Fury.
Inside
The Steelheads make some front-office moves, C5
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