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Florida Atlantic turns to ex-NBA coach Curry

 
Published April 8, 2014

Michael Curry has led a team into the NBA playoffs, served as president of the National Basketball Players Association and spent 11 years playing in the league.

Now, Florida Atlantic has lured him back to college.

Curry was introduced Monday night in Boca Raton as the Owls' coach, replacing Mike Jarvis, whose six-year tenure ended after the season.

Curry, 45, most recently was an associate coach with the 76ers. He was an NBA head coach in 2008-09 with the Pistons, guiding Detroit to the playoffs, but was fired after that lone season.

FAU went 10-20 this season, and Curry — who has already broken down the Owls' play from this season — knows a rebuilding project awaits.

"We want to be a Top 25 team in the country," Curry said. "We have to recruit some very good basketball players. But more importantly, we want to recruit good young men. Total package."

Players were told of the hire a few hours before the school made it official.

FAU athletic director Patrick Chun lauded Curry's character and said he's convinced that the new coach "literally has a Ph.D in basketball."

Curry played for seven NBA teams from 1993-2005 and was president of the players' union for four years. He was part of Doug Collins' staff with the 76ers through the end of last season.

Smart entering draft: Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart declared for the NBA draft. The sophomore told the Daily Oklahoman he has hired an agent, making a foregone conclusion official.

Auburn: Former Tigers All-American and NBA rookie of the year Chuck Person is returning to the school as an assistant coach on Bruce Pearl's staff.

Arizona State: Associate head coach Eric Musselman is leaving the program, the school said.