eGriz
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Joined: 27 Mar 2002
Posts: 3585
Location: Missoula, Montana
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The stories are in order as they appear in this content area:
Ex-Griz coach to get NBA job (AP, Billings Gazette).
O'Brien faces 27 fed counts (AP, Independent Record).
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Ex-Griz coach to get NBA job
Associated Press, Billings Gazette
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Eric Musselman was fired Wednesday after just two seasons as coach of the Golden State Warriors. He will be replaced by Stanford's Mike Montgomery, a source told The Associated Press.
Musselman told the AP in a phone interview that he received the news of the firing from executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin around 7:15 p.m.
Stanford spokesman Gary Migdol told the AP that Montgomery met with his players Wednesday to discuss the Warriors' situation. A Pac-10 source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Montgomery told the players he accepted the job.
Calls to Golden State officials were not immediately returned. Montgomery could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Warriors missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year in an injury-plagued season, finishing 37-45.
"It's been a great two years. The players have played their hearts out,"
Musselman said by cell phone Wednesday night. "The organization's headed in a great direction."
The hiring of the team's ninth coach since 1994 is the first big move made by Mullin since he took over the team last month.
Montgomery has been one of the most successful college coaches during his 18 years at Stanford, but has no NBA experience. He led the Cardinal to their third No. 1 NCAA tournament seed in five years this season, but Stanford was upset in the second round by Alabama.
Stanford has been to the second round of the NCAA tournament for 10 straight years and made the Final Four in 1998. The Cardinal won their first 26 games this season and finished the regular season ranked No. 1 with a 29-1 mark.
He has a career record of 547-244, including eight seasons at Montana.
Montgomery takes over a team with many questions. Centers Erick Dampier and Adonal Foyle both might be on their way out. Foyle's contract is up, while Dampier has two years left but can opt out of it and become a free agent.
The 39-year-old Musselman is the franchise's most successful coach of the last decade, but he apparently clashed with management who wanted him to play the young players more so they could develop rather than relying so much on veterans.
Musselman led the Warriors to 38 victories last season, their best finish since 1994. Golden State won 37 games this season despite several big roster changes and significant injuries to Troy Murphy, Nick Van Exel, Speedy Claxton, Foyle and Dampier. There were times the team didn't even have enough bodies to practice.
"The next step is doing what Memphis did this year. We were looking forward to coming in and do what Memphis did this year," he said.
The Grizzlies made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history this season after years of losing.
"I got an opportunity of a lifetime and will always be grateful to the Warriors for that," Musselman said.
The Warriors were among the most improved defensive teams this season and established a team single-season attendance record, averaging 16,235 people per game.
Musselman, who had one year remaining on a three-year, $4.5 million contract, was 75-89 overall.
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O'Brien faces 27 fed counts
By The Associated Press, Helena Independent Record
BUTTE (AP) — A former Montana State University assistant football coach who is already facing state drug charges was in federal court here Wednesday on a string of new federal drug charges.
The U.S. attorney's office charged Joe O'Brien with two counts of conspiracy to sell more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, one count of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a college and 24 counts of money laundering.
He pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, and U.S. District Judge Richard Anderson ordered him into federal custody until a detention hearing Friday morning in Billings. He had been free on bond.
Anderson also ordered O'Brien to submit to a drug test after the hearing.
If convicted of the federal charges, O'Brien would have to forfeit the
$23,442 prosecutors said he collected during the alleged sales.
Court records indicate the charges stem from drug activity between January
2001 and Sept. 12, 2003, the date O'Brien was arrested in Townsend on a
state charge of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to sell. O'Brien
has pleaded innocent on the state charge, arguing he was set up. He is
expected to go on trial Monday.
Broadwater County Attorney John Flynn said his office was reviewing the new
federal charges and did not immediately know whether it would affect the
state case.
‘‘Frequently, once defendants who have pending drug charges in state court
are charged in the federal system, the state charges will be dropped,'' he
said. ‘‘Right now, we're waiting to see how the feds plan to proceed.''
Source: Tom Griz Fan
May 20, 2004
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