Sidney Moncrief always wanted to coach.
He even went to college at Arkansas with the purpose of landing a coaching job after his playing days. There was one slight change to Moncrief's plans though -- after a stellar collegiate career with the Razorbacks, the NBA came calling.
"I got sidetracked by the NBA," he said Tuesday. "Then I got sidetracked by business, but I've always wanted to coach."
Moncrief did get back to coach, including as an assistant with the Mavericks. He has another shot now after being selected coach of the Fort Worth Flyers on Tuesday.
He replaces Sam Vincent, who led the Flyers in their inaugural NBA Development League season.
Fort Worth won the regular-season championship and reached the title game. Vincent, after working with the Dallas summer-league team, joined the Mavs staff Thursday as an assistant.
"I can't think of a better venue than the NBDL for me to coach," Moncrief said. "I've always aspired to lead a team, coach a team. I don't get excited about very much, but I'm very intense and very into what I need to do here.
"I want this team to be the center for the NBDL. When they think of a class organization, with a community that supports its basketball team, I want them to think of our club. That's what my goal is."
Said David Kahn, principal owner of Southwest Basketball, LLC, which operates the Fort Worth, Austin, Tulsa and Albuquerque franchises: "This was a tall order to find somebody who could measure up to Sam...and I think we've done that. Don't ask me what I'm going to do next when...Sidney leaves, because I don't know if I can do better than this."
A two-time All-American with Arkansas, Moncrief was picked fifth overall by Milwaukee in the 1979 draft. In 10 seasons with the Bucks, he was a five-time All-Star, five-time NBA All-Defensive team pick and four-time selection to the All-NBA first team. Moncrief's No. 4 jersey is retired by Milwaukee, as he helped the Bucks to seven seasons with 50 or more wins and 10 playoff appearances.
Between his playing and coaching careers, Moncrief served as president of two car dealerships in Arkansas. He is also president of the Back 2 Basics All-Star Basketball Academy, a basketball training and consulting company.
"When they came to me and asked if I wanted to coach, at that point I thought, 'This is something I know I want to do,'" Moncrief said. "If I don't do it now, I probably never will get to do it again."
Article by FWST
Moncrief to coach Flyers
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