Hoop coach brings Wildcat wisdom

June 6, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

He's advanced from little-known walk-on to become a highly ranked assistant coach with the NCAA basketball powerhouse Arizona Wildcats. And now Josh Pastner is coming to New Westminster to coach the coaches.

Pastner is the featured instructor at the two-day basketball coaches clinic running June 24 and 25 at Douglas College's New Westminster Campus.

"We are extremely pleased and excited to have Coach Pastner come to Douglas College to work with basketball coaches from around the province," offered Dave Munro, Programmer for the Douglas College Sports Institute. "He is one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the US, and comes from a program in the University of Arizona that is known for its winning tradition and excellence."

Pastner joined Arizona as an unrecruited guard in 1996. Walk-on players rarely stick with top teams such as the Wildcats, but his legendary work ethic earned him a spot on the roster - and notoriety as a student athlete. He earned his BA in just 2.5 years, the fastest an Arizona student-athlete has ever earned a degree.

"When he came in some of the veterans were saying `What is this guy about?'" Arizona Head Coach Lute Olson remarked during Pastner's third season. "But I tell you, he's made believers out of every guy in the team."

One of those guys was ex-Vancouver Grizzly Mike Bibby, who wanted to hire his teammate as a personal trainer after being selected as the second overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. Pastner turned down the offer, stayed with the Wildcats and was offered an assistant's job by Olson.

It's been a great ride. As a player, he won two PAC-10 Championships and played on the 1997 NCAA Championship Team. As a coach, he's helped lead the Wildcats into the NCAA tournament every season, reaching the final in 2001 (losing to Duke) and the elite eight in 2005. As well, the Basketball Times recently listed Pastner as the sixth-ranked assistant coach in the nation.

At the Douglas College gym, Pastner's clinic will cover such essentials as competitive team drills, teaching fundamentals, rebounding and transitions, plus much more. For more information or to register call 604-527-5041.

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