One of the most successful coaches the British Basketball League has ever seen has been snapped up by the Worcester Wolves. In a dramatic turn of events the Wolves owner Roger Clarke has secured the services of coach James – known universally throughout British and European basketball as PJ.
As a player PJ made his league debut for his hometown club Leicester weeks after his 17th birthday and after a successful spell with them, he went on to play for nine years with the Bracknell Tigers and while at both these clubs throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s he won numerous BBL Championships, BBL Trophies and runners up medals. He represented England as a player and indeed went on to coach his country at all levels. PJ was head coach for the Tigers for 8 years from 1997.
In summer 2005 the Guildford Heat were formed and James was appointed Head coach. In just four years he led the franchise to every possible success in every domestic competition – the BBL play offs 2007 / 8; the BBL Trophy 2007 /8 and runners up 2008 /9; the BBL cup winners cup 2007 / 8 and 2008 /9 and the BBL Championship runners up in 2007 / 8.
In 2006 / 7 PJ was voted the BBL Coach of the year and has been a BBL coach for 12 years. It was this proven, successful, hard won experience at the very highest level that attracted Wolves boss Roger Clarke to PJ. "PJ is out of the very top drawer of British coaches and with him joining the Wolves it shows to our loyal fans, and all other interested parties, that we are over the unfortunate incidents of the last few days. I am really happy at the speed in which we were able to tie up the details with Paul and by inviting one of the best coaches in the UK to work with the Wolves it shows our intentions very clearly. The fight back has begun in earnest and we aim not just to free wheel and complete the remainder of this season but also to try hard and really achieve something.
Paul's first competitive game in charge in January will be in the same month as we launch our "10 years of the Worcester Wolves" programme and he is the most exciting signing we have ever made in our history."
Paul was delighted with his appointment. He said, " Having spoken with Roger Clarke it was an easy decision to make. There is a passion and tradition for basketball at all levels in Worcester and there is, in addition, ambition as well. We want the team to be challenging for BBL honours season after season and we hope to get better and better over the next few years. The potential here is huge and I sincerely hope to bring success to the club before too long. I can assure fans that the hard work of recruiting a team has started and I hope to start announcing players soon."
Source: www.bbl.org.uk
This article is sponsored by Cypruslikethis. Find…everything in Cyprus!
