Detroiters are infamously competitive, and sports fans in this city wear their reputation for fiercely supporting our beloved sports teams like a badge of honor. It’s that die-hard approach to team support that makes Detroit one of the greatest sports towns in history. And that is especially true of our beloved basketball teams and the league which has spawned such greats as Joe Dumars, Grant Hill, the unforgettable “Mr. Big Shot” Chauncey Billups, the man who would be mayor Dave Bing and of course the infamous “Bad Boys” who put everyone in the game on their collective ear.
With the reintroduction of the American Basketball Association to the Detroit sports scene, fans of the sport are getting an opportunity to see fresh new local talent on courts and in gyms around the city. “This is basically a rebirth of the ABA,” Coast ll Coast team owner Howard Hayes.
During the 70’s the National Basketball Association’s merger with the ABA resulted in the NBA acquiring all but four of the league’s teams. Basketball legends Artis Gilmore, Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Moses Malone continued to play in the league until the late 70s. “A few years ago I played in this league, and I saw how some teams were managed and wanted to get involved with managing players,” explains Hayes who played at Cooley High School and Chicago State University, before going on to play in Europe, Venezuela and Canada.
“I wanted to go back and coach kids initially and I did train kids for a time. But I decided I was better suited to coach grown men because I could teach the pro-game better to them than I could kids. I also thought a lot of guys deserved a shot,” Hayes’ explained during half time of a match-up between Coast 11 Coast and the Toledo Raptors. The hometown Coast ll Coast team annihilated their opponents from Ohio in an exciting victory.
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Hayes’ decision to bring non-NBA play to a town internationally known for their ardent support of home teams and with such a long-standing tradition of fiercely supporting homegrown talent is paying off. Coast ll Coast, which joined the ABA in 2013 is already making its mark and attracting top quality talent to its ranks. “Well we’re basketball junkies and word about the team is getting around through the courts and the players. We’ll continue to seek out the cream of the crop to cultivate their play and hone their skills, so we can continue to get them in front of professional sports teams all over the world.”
Hayes credits his knowledgeable and dedicated staff for much of the team’s success. “The selection of players and coaches is critical, but none of this could happen without a good staff. Dennis Foster Jr. is my head coach and general manager and Greg Lindsey is the assistant coach. Curtis Smith is the director of marketing and Ken Hubbard provides consulting services. Ashley Smiley is one of my executive assistants and there are several couple other key people like Steve Horn and the advertising tem working to make all of this happen.”
Hayes adds that he is confident that the upcoming 2014-2015 season will bring more talent to the team and more fans to the stands. “We are getting ready to have open try outs in August and September and in October we’ll hold veteran’s camp, and once they go to vet camp we’ll select the final 15.”
Watch video here:
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For more information on to register for tryouts with Coast to Coast All Stars call 734-219-2811
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