Spurs formally add Vaughn to bench
Spurs formally add Vaughn to bench
By Jeff McDonald - Express-News
Web Posted: 09/25/2010 12:00 CDT
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wanted Jacque Vaughn on his staff so bad he invented
a job for him.
Vaughn, a crafty point guard who played the final three seasons of his NBA
career with the Spurs, was formally added to the team's bench as an assistant
coach Friday.
On paper, Vaughn replaces video coordinator James Borrego, who left after seven
seasons to join new coach Monty Williams' staff in New Orleans. In truth,
Vaughn will fill a role on Popovich's bench that didn't exist last season.
Tony Parker's former backup is now an extra assistant coach.
"We didn't really have a spot for him — I just made it up," Popovich said.
"That's how badly we wanted him. We didn't want to lose him to someone else."
Bret Brielmaier will fill Borrego's role in the Spurs' film room.
Long a Popovich favorite, both for his work ethic and basketball acumen, Vaughn
played with the Spurs from 2006-2009, earning a championship ring in 2007.
During Vaughn's playing career, Popovich often described him as a coach in the
making.
"It was evident everyone on the team looked up to him and respected him, even
though he wasn't the most talented player," Popovich said. "He was always on
my list as someone we wanted back when he was done playing."
For Vaughn, 35, Friday's news formalized a reunion with his former club months
in the making.
Earlier this summer, Vaughn served as an assistant with the Spurs'
summer-league team in Las Vegas, and also aided in voluntary team drills this
offseason.
After retiring as a player following the 2008-09 campaign, Vaughn took last
season off, choosing to spend his time puttering around the house in Lawrence,
Kan., with his wife and two sons.
When Vaughn decided this summer he was ready to return to the NBA workforce,
Popovich and Spurs general manager R.C. Buford had one question for him:
"What do you want to do?"
"He could have done anything, in management or coaching," Popovich said.
"If he had wanted to go into management, we would have created a spot in
management."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/
spurs_formally_add_vaughn_to_bench_103761829.html
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