Santa Cruz Warriors Finalize 2022-23 Coaching and Training Staff
October 12, 2022 – NBA G League (G League) – Santa Cruz Warriors News Release
SANTA CRUZ, CA – The Santa Cruz Warriors, the NBA G League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors, have finalized the coaching and training staff under second year head coach Seth Cooper for the 2022-23 NBA G League season. Nick Kerr and Noel Hightower will be assistant coaches. Tyler Larson and Devin Sweetney will be assistant/player development coaches. Toral Desai will return as head athletic trainer and Andre Mattson will return as head performance coach.
The team also announced Michael Salame as director of basketball operations and player personnel and Shannon Stabler as manager of basketball operations and team development. Dawood Akhtar will serve as the team’s basketball operations associate and Rogene Tagoca as assistant athletic trainer.
“I am excited to welcome new and old faces to our Santa Cruz staff this season,” said Santa Cruz Warriors General Manager David Fatoki. “We are excited to build upon last season’s success and compete for a Championship with this staff this season.”
Kerr is entering his second season as an assistant coach and was formerly the Golden State Warriors video coordinator and player development coach.
Hightower is entering his first season with the Santa Cruz Warriors after spending one season with the Indiana Pacers as a player development coach.
Larson is entering his first season as an assistant/player development coach with the Santa Cruz Warriors, after playing professionally in Italy last season.
Sweetney is entering his first season as an assistant/player development coach with the Santa Cruz Warriors after spending last season with the Windy City Bulls as an assistant/player development coach.
Desai is entering her second season with Santa Cruz after spending the past seven seasons with UCLA Athletics. Mattson is entering his third season with Santa Cruz as head performance coach.
Anthony Vereen, an assistant coach in Santa Cruz last season, has joined the Golden State Warriors for this season as a player development coach. Vereen, who won an NBA G League Championship with Santa Cruz as a player in 2015, has been on the coaching staff since 2017. Vereen joins former Santa Cruz Warriors head coach Kris Weems on the Golden State Warriors staff.
“We are excited to get back on the court this season and welcome new faces to Santa Cruz,” said Cooper. “These coaches and staff will facilitate in the growth and development of young players and be great mentors to our team. I look forward to competing on the court with them this season.”
The Santa Cruz Warriors open the 2022-23 NBA G League season with back-to-back games against the Ontario Clippers on November 4 and 5. Tip-off for both games is at 7:00pm. On November 4, all fans will receive an Opening Night T-shirt, presented by Kaiser Permanente.
Santa Cruz Warriors tickets for the 2022-23 season, presented by Kaiser Permanente, are now on sale. Fans interested in securing the best seats at the lowest price are encouraged to call (831) 713-4400 or visit santacruzbasketball.com for more information.
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