Fohi's Sean Rooks: Interim Coach of D-League Team
Sean Rooks, former Lakers and Clippers backup center, has been named interim coach of the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.
Rook takes over, after this weekend, for former UCLA head coach Jim Harrick, who was struggling (3-14) in Bakersfield but insisted he resigned "for personal reasons."
Rooks was a standout center at Fontana High School in the late-1980s, then went to Arizona and played for Lute Olson. As a freshman he was part of a group of reserves who cheered enthusiastically and were known as "The Gumbys."
Rooks was a second-round NBA draft choice but never quite panned out as a top-echelon player.
Not that he didn't make some serious money. He signed a seven-year, $13.4-million contract with the Lakers in the summer of 1996 -- just before the Lakers signed Shaquille O'Neal. Meaning Rooks didn't have to do much heavy lifting, behind Shaq, while making millions per season with the Lakers.
Anyway, I didn't know he was into coaching. To the point that he will be considered as a candidate to keep the Bakersfield job full time.
Following is the release from the D League offices in New York.
NEW YORK, NY -- Dec. 28, 2007 == The Bakersfield Jam today announced that head coach Jim Harrick will be stepping down due to personal reasons following the team's game Dec. 29 against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Sean Rooks, the team's assistant coach and a veteran of 12 NBA seasons as a player, will take over the reins as interim head coach. His first test will come on Jan. 4 when the team visits the Utah Flash.
Harrick posted a 19-31 record last season, but the team finished strong, recording a 6-2 mark to close the campaign. This year the Jam currently stand at 3-14.
"It is with great sorrow that I relieve myself of coaching duties with the Bakersfield Jam," said Harrick. "I'd like to thank the ownership group and entire organization for the opportunity to help bring such a high level of basketball to the people of Kern County. Despite our slow start this season, I am confident the team is heading in the right direction and my only regret is not finishing the job I started."
Harrick's distinguished coaching career spans five decades and includes a national championship won at UCLA, a national coach of the year award, three Pac-10 titles, an Atlantic 10 tournament championship and five West Coast Athletic Championships.
The native of Charleston, West Virginia, began his collegiate head coaching career at Pepperdine University in 1979 where he led the school to four NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1988 Harrick replaced Walt Hazzard at UCLA and won the national championship seven seasons later. He then went on to lead Rhode Island from 1997-99 and Georgia from 1999-2003. After his tenure with the Bulldogs he retired from coaching and worked as a college basketball analyst.
"We're sad to see a man with such a great coaching pedigree and ambassador to the sport leave the Jam. Of course, we respect his decision and will provide any support he needs throughout his future endeavors," said Jam majority owner Stan Ellis.
Rooks, 38 began his NBA playing career after starring at Arizona. He was the third selection in the second round of the 1992 draft by the Dallas Mavericks, the team with which he spent his first two seasons. The 6-10 former center also had stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Hornets and Orlando Magic. He posted career averages of 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds.
The Jam has already embarked on a search for Harrick's permanent replacement, with Rooks one of the potential candidates. Harrick has agreed to assist the team in their search in any way needed.
The NBA Development League is the NBA's official minor league, and the first-ever basketball league with direct affiliations to NBA teams. Now in its seventh season the D-League's goals are to provide affordable, NBA-caliber entertainment to fans of its 14 teams, as well as continue to develop players, coaches, referees and front-office personnel for the NBA. As the single source for in-season player "call-ups" to the NBA, fans of the D-League enjoy the highest caliber of basketball played outside the NBA. In fact, former D-League players represented 10 percent of NBA players on 2007-08 opening day rosters, numbering 44 in total. In addition, the D-League has produced 25 percent of current NBA referees and 16 current NBA coaches, including head coach Sam Vincent with the Charlotte Bobcats. The D-League is an innovative and rapidly growing sports property that also serves as an experimental testing ground for new initiatives of the NBA and its teams, provides continuing education and professional development resources for its players, and is committed to serving its local communities through D-LEAGUE CARES and grassroots efforts.