A sharpshooting former NBA All-Star is UNC Charlotte's new men's basketball coach. Mark Price is leaving his assistant coaching position with the Charlotte Hornets to take over the 49ers program.
If you want to learn how to shoot a basketball, there are very few people with more expertise than Mark Price.
Price won the NBA's 3-point contest in 1993 and 1994. He retired in 1999 as one of the NBA's greatest shooters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXv3DokMdK0
Since 2007, he's been an assistant coach in the NBA. He spent the last two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets.
UNC Charlotte Athletic Director Judy Rose says he was the university's first choice.
"He has a wealth of basketball knowledge and experience," she said Thursday in announcing the hire. "He has the proven ability to develop talent. And at each of his stops along the way, he has helped take a program, and he's made it better."
That started as a college player at Georgia Tech, and continued as an assistant coach who helped several NBA teams make the playoffs.
UNC Charlotte hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2005, and the team had a losing record this season. But Price had a message for everyone who'll watch the Sweet 16 games.
"My goal and my dream is that shortly, we'll be getting seen on TV instead of watching the games as well," Price said to a huge round of applause from students and others in attendance.
Price replaces Alan Major. Major had health problems this year, and he and the school agreed that parting ways was best for both.
Price's contract is for five years at $500,000 a year, plus incentives.