Krystkowiak lands CBA job in Idaho
5/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Stampede have their own Coach "K."
Former University of Montana basketball star Larry Krystkowiak was hired to coach the Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association on Wednesday.
He replaces Rory White, whose contract was not renewed.
Krystkowiak, a second-round draft pick for Chicago in 1988 out of UM, played in the NBA for nine years for the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, the Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.
He also played in Italy and, for four games in the winter of 1998, the Stampede.
It's Krystkowiak's first head coaching job. A three-time Big Sky Conference MVP at Montana in 1984-86, he returned to his alma mater after his playing days to serve as an assistant coach under Don Holst from 1998-2000. He joined the staff of former UM head coach Blaine Taylor at Old Dominion, where he coached the 2001-2002 season before resigning for personal reasons last July.
At the time Krystkowiak said he wanted to remain in coaching, perhaps at the high school level.
"There are four goals that I have with this job," Krystkowiak said at a Stampede news conference in Boise on Wednesday. "One, to create an exciting brand of basketball. Number two, to be involved in the community around the Treasure Valley. Three, to be a positive influence on my players and, four, I don't see why we can't bring a championship to the valley. I'm very keen on that."
The Stampede are coming off a 17-31 season, worst in the league, in their first year back since the CBA folded in February of 2001.
"We're very pleased to have a person of this caliber," said Stampede general manager John Brunelle. "We are very confident that Larry will lead this team in the right direction."
Krystkowiak and his wife Jan have three young children and will live in the Boise area.
Former University of Montana basketball star Larry Krystkowiak was hired to coach the Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association on Wednesday.
He replaces Rory White, whose contract was not renewed.
Krystkowiak, a second-round draft pick for Chicago in 1988 out of UM, played in the NBA for nine years for the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, the Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.
He also played in Italy and, for four games in the winter of 1998, the Stampede.
It's Krystkowiak's first head coaching job. A three-time Big Sky Conference MVP at Montana in 1984-86, he returned to his alma mater after his playing days to serve as an assistant coach under Don Holst from 1998-2000. He joined the staff of former UM head coach Blaine Taylor at Old Dominion, where he coached the 2001-2002 season before resigning for personal reasons last July.
At the time Krystkowiak said he wanted to remain in coaching, perhaps at the high school level.
"There are four goals that I have with this job," Krystkowiak said at a Stampede news conference in Boise on Wednesday. "One, to create an exciting brand of basketball. Number two, to be involved in the community around the Treasure Valley. Three, to be a positive influence on my players and, four, I don't see why we can't bring a championship to the valley. I'm very keen on that."
The Stampede are coming off a 17-31 season, worst in the league, in their first year back since the CBA folded in February of 2001.
"We're very pleased to have a person of this caliber," said Stampede general manager John Brunelle. "We are very confident that Larry will lead this team in the right direction."
Krystkowiak and his wife Jan have three young children and will live in the Boise area.
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