Bellarmine University Men’s Head Basketball Coach Scott Davenport has announced several changes in his coaching staff for the 2013-14 school year with former volunteer assistant coach Reece Gaines and part-time assistant coach Michael Scott coming on board on a full-time basis. In addition, Damien Anderson will join the staff as an assistant coach.
"I have had the fortunate experience to be on some outstanding staffs in my career," said Davenport. "Great staffs have two common characteristics: tremendous chemistry and outstanding work ethic. I am very confident this staff will excel in both areas."
Gaines, a former University of Louisville All-American guard, joined Davenport’s staff last year following a 10-year professional career that included stints with the NBA’s Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets and the Milwaukee Bucks as well as several European teams. His duties at Bellarmine will focus on recruiting, player instruction and game preparation.
"I stated a year ago when Reece joined us as an assistant it would just be a matter of time for him to progress in the coaching field," Davenport said. "He is now ready to embark on what I believe will be an outstanding career. His determination as a player was second to none and now he has transferred that to coaching. He has a tremendous relationship with the players and is really embracing becoming a teacher of the game. He studies the game like he did as a player! He has a very bright future," Davenport added.
Scott is beginning his ninth year with the Bellarmine basketball team, which mirrors Davenport’s tenure with the Knights. Scott served four years as a student manager, then joined the staff as a graduate assistant. He will work in all facets of the program focusing on daily operations and game preparation.
"Mike has earned the title of full time assistant coach by the most proven method in all of athletics–hard work and dedication," Davenport said. "He has paid his dues as a student manager, graduate assistant, part-time assistant to now being a full time college assistant. Look around the NBA, and you see the likes of Frank Vogel (Pacers) and Lawrence Frank (Nets) as coaches in the greatest league in the world who started as student managers. They all have a healthy appreciation of what hard work is all about. Recruiting is a 24/7 job involving every member of the staff. It takes an entire university to recruit the special young men we target. We are very fortunate from Dr. McGowan on down we recruit as a team!"
Anderson, a native of Brisbane, Australia, comes to Bellarmine with a wealth of playing and coaching experience. He played in both the Australian Basketball Association (ABA) and the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) from 1991-2007 and once scored an Australian record 75 points in a game. Anderson’s coaching experience includes various roles in Australia from 1999-2007, two years as an graduate assistant at the University of the Pacific and the past four years as an assistant coach at Louisville’s St. Xavier High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Southern Queensland.
"Damien joins us from an outstanding background at St. Xavier and the University of Pacific," Davenport said. "He is an outstanding student of the game and a tireless worker. We have had wonderful success with international players and his knowledge and contacts around the world are very impressive. Basketball is truly a global game and his understanding of the game from an international point of view will be a great asset to our staff."
Another change affecting the BU coaching staff is that former assistant coach Drew Cooper was named as the head coach of Thomas More earlier this summer.
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