D-Fenders finalize coaching staff for 2015-16 season

The Lakes’ Development League affiliate, the D-Fenders, have finalized Casey Owens’ coaching staff.

His assistant coaches will include Paul Woolpert, Brian Walsh, Jermaine Byrd and Will Scott, all of whom have extensive experience in different capacities.

“I am pleased to have Paul Woolpert, Brian Walsh, Jermaine Byrd and Will Scott join us as assistant coaches for this upcoming season,” Owens said in a statement. “Paul and Brian are veteran coaches who have won multiple championships throughout their careers. Both have been head coaches in the past, and their experience, leadership, and expertise will be invaluable to the organization as we begin this new challenge. Jermaine and Will are D-League veterans, rising young coaches, and have worked extensively with Team USA and the Lakers, respectively. It’s a dynamic staff, and all of us are focused on bringing championship level basketball to El Segundo.”

Woolpert has coached for nearly 30 years with stints spanning the NBA, D-League, Continental Basketball League and overseas. He served as a scout and video coordinator for the former Seattle Supersonics (1986-1994). Woolpert worked as a CBA scout for the Portland Trail Blazers (1995-2004). During that time he was also an assistant coach both for the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Yakima Sun Kings, where he soon became the head coach in 1998 and winning a CBA championship in 2000. Woolpert also won a CBA title with the Sun Kings in 2006 and 2007. He later served as a head coach for the Townsville Crocodiles (2011-14) and became an assistant for the Perth Wildcats (2014-15) of the National Basketball League in Australia.

Walsh has worked as both a head and assistant coach with various D-League, high schools and overseas teams. He was a head coach with Gambusinos De Fresnillo in Mexico (2006), an associate and interim head coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2007-08), the head coach for the Al Ahli Professional Sports Club (2009-10), the head coach/director of player personnel with the New Mexico Slam and the head coach of the Nebraska Cranes (2006). Walsh was also an assistant coach and lead scout at Baylor University, the Dakota Wizards and the Colorado 14ers. Walsh coached under Owens with with Gambusinos De Fresnillo and the Wizards.

Byrd has worked as an assistant coach for the USA Men’s basketball team during the Pan American Games, the Tulsa 66ers (2011-12), the Siox Falls Skyforce (2013-14) and the D-Fenders (2014-15). Byrd also served as the 66ers’ video coordinator from 2009 to 2011, and played at the University of Sioux Falls.

Lastly, Scott has worked with the D-Fenders for the past five years as a video coordinator, a role he will keep with his current assistant gig. He has also helped both the Lakers and WNBA’s Sparks with video work.

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