June 9, 2006
Arizona State head men's basketball coach Herb Sendek has announced his staff for the 2006-2007 season, and it includes two former assistants from North Carolina State, an assistant from a two-time conference champion, one of the most successful prep coaches in California High School basketball recent history and a coordinator for basketball technology from the Big Ten Conference.
"We most certainly have assembled an outstanding staff," says Sendek, who is 253-158 (.647) in 13 seasons, including a 191-132 (.591) record at NC State. "They are a character-based, experienced and passionate group who are united and determined to continue to advance Arizona State basketball and are excited to be part of the Sun Devil family."
Joining Sendek from North Carolina State will be ten-year assistant Mark Phelps and former NC State standout Archie Miller. Phelps will enter his 18th year of coaching and 11th on the collegiate level, all under Sendek as he helped turn the NC State program into one of the most consistent programs in the nation, as the Wolfpack made five straight NCAA appearances the past five seasons. Miller brings experience and knowledge as both a player (1998-2002) and assistant coach (2005-06) in Sendek's system.
New to Sendek on the bench will be assistant coach Dedrique Taylor and director of operations Scott Pera. Taylor has been a part of the tremendous consistent success at Nevada, helping the Wolf Pack to 57 wins and two WAC Championships the past two seasons. A native of Pomona, Calif., Taylor has coached at four schools in his career, all of the in the west (UC Davis, Loyola Marymount, Portland State and Nevada).
Pera was one of the most successful coaches in California prep play recently as he posted an overall record of 258-65 (.799) at Artesia High School in Lakewood, Calif., and also at Annville Cleona High School in Annville, Pa. His Artesia squad won the California state title, went 33-1 and earned national rankings by Sports Illustrated (second), USA Today (sixth) and MaxPreps.com (first) last season. He also coached Annville Cleona in Annville, Pa., to a state title in 1999.
Mike Gibson, who has worked at Michigan State the past season and graduated from Carnegie-Mellon (Pa.) in May of 2005, will coordinate basketball technology.
ASU returns its top seven scorers from last year for Sendek, who at 43, will be the second-youngest coach in the Pac-10.