ECB Press Release – For Immediate Release
All-Time Great D-Mac Joins Forces with Coasters at Upcoming Foot Locker Elite Classic – High Stakes Hoops
The Coasters have signaled their intentions to put all the pieces in place at the first Foot Locker Elite Classic – High Stakes Hoops event (April 6-11, Adelaide Dome) by signing all-time NBL great Darryl McDonald as Coach.
The Coasters, whose Team Rights belong to Melbourne Vixen & Australian Diamond netballer Julie Corletto, prevailed in an interesting side battle by securing the man affectionately known as D-Mac. The Rush, whose Team Rights belong to another NBL future Hall-of-Famer Lanard Copeland, were also in the running for D-Mac’s involvement but the Coasters now have the dual NBL Championship winner locked up to guide their roster.
McDonald, who began his illustrious Australian basketball career in 1994 with the North Melbourne Giants, and completed it with the Melbourne Tigers in 2008, has spent his post-playing days coaching — first with the Melbourne Tigers as an Assistant Coach during the 2009 season, and now conducting various elite junior coaching programs.
The Foot Locker Elite Classic – High Stakes Hoops event should provide a style of play right up D-Mac’s alley. With Coaches able to call a halt to the play only two times each half (one full timeout & one 20-second timeout) combined with the ‘Game Breaker rule’, scoring is expected to be high.
“I’m happy that I’ll be a part of this event with the Coasters”, McDonald said today. “I’m enjoying my coaching involvement. But make no mistake, this event is going to be a ‘player’s game’ if you look at the rules and how this thing is set up. I think you’ll see high scores and a really up-and-down game”, McDonald added.
Darryl McDonald file: – Did You Know?
D-Mac was recruited by Brett Brown after a stint in the Canadian NBL. Brown, while recruiting prior to the 1994 season, was in fact assessing another player on tape when he noticed McDonald and switched his focus to recruiting Darryl.
McDonald had a relatively late start on the Australian scene — he was 30 years old the year he arrived. He went on to play 410 in NBL games.
While McDonald was 44 when he retired, he looked every bit on top of his game – his trademark lightning reflexes still intact.
McDonald’s 2006 NBL Championship season was particularly unique — his son Derrick was on the same roster that season.
D-Mac was schooled in the game on the playgrounds of New York where his name remains respected in many circles today.
