Westhead Hired by ABA
Paul Westhead, who coached the Lakers to an NBA championship in 1980 and guided high-scoring Loyola Marymount from 1985 to ‘90, will coach the Long Beach Jam of the American Basketball Association.
Considered a guru of fastbreak basketball, Westhead coached in the Japan Basketball League the last two seasons.
He also has coached at La Salle and George Mason and in the NBA at Chicago and Denver.
“The style of play that I want coincides perfectly with Paul Westhead’s philosophy of basketball,” Jam President Steve Chase said Wednesday. “I want a fast-paced, high-scoring team. I can’t think of a coach anywhere in the world who is more qualified and whose philosophy of basketball is any faster-paced and higher-scoring than Paul Westhead’s.”
Longtime player agent Gene Shimamura has been named as the team’s chief executive. The Jam is scheduled to begin its inaugural season at Long Beach State’s Pyramid in November.
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