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The Austin Spurs announce that there will be two new assistant coaches for this upcoming season. Patrick Mutombo and AJ Diggs will sit alongside head coach Ken McDonald on the bench. McDonald says the organization is "fortunate to continue to attract strong candidates to join (its) coaching staff".
Patrick Mutombo was most recently an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets for past three years. Before that, he had a six-year pro career overseas in Italy, Brazil, and Greece. Mutombo also played 29 games with the D-League Bakersfield Jam from 2009-11. He won two NCAA Division II Championships in 2000 and 2002 with Metropolitan State University. Mutombo no doubt has a mind for the game and will be a great addition to the sidelines.
AJ Diggs spent his last season as an assistant coach with the Marine Red Claws, another D-League team. Before that, Diggs was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Long Beach Poly High School. Like Mutombo, Diggs played in the D-League for a short time himself. He spent one season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2005-06. Collegiately, AJ lettered four years at the University of California (2000-04), and notched 158 steals, which ranks third all time behind Jason Kidd (204) and Butch Hays (166).
Both of these men will be valuable assets to the organization. The Austin Spurs have made the postseason seven of their 12 seasons in the D-League, and even brought home the championship in 2011-12. After losing in the semifinals last year, they look to continue being one of the top teams in league, and are hoping to bring home another D-League championship.
The season opener is Friday, Nov. 13th at 7:30 p.m. against the Texas Legends at Cedar Park Center. You can visit austinspurs.com or call (512) 236-8333 for ticket information.