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RazorSharks Re-Sign Head Coach Rod Baker

July 20, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Rochester RazorSharks News Release


(Rochester, N.Y.)...The Rochester RazorSharks today announced they have resigned Head Coach Rod Baker to a multi-year agreement for the American Basketball League franchise. Baker led the RazorSharks to a 30-4 record and the ABA Championship in their inaugural season last year.

"We are proud to have Rod back as the head coach of this championship basketball team," said Orest Hrywnak, the RazorSharks Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. "Rod's leadership with the players both on and off the court, his basketball coaching skills and his involvement in the Rochester community has impressed not only our organization, but also fans and community leaders in the Rochester area."

Baker led the RazorSharks to the ABA championship in their first season of play after capturing the Connie Hawkins Division title during the regular season. The RazorSharks won 22 of their last 23 games and set a Rochester professional sports record by winning 16 consecutive games during the regular season. He was selected as an associate head coach for the 2005-2006 ABA All-Star Game in Miami. The RazorSharks led the ABA in attendance by averaging 3,240 fans per game at The Blue Cross Arena.

"When I signed on last year to coach this team, I promised only one thing - that our team would play hard every night and entertain the fans," said Baker. "I felt we accomplished that goal and winning the ABA championship is a tribute to the entire organization's hard work and effort. I am very happy to continue coaching this team and I want to thank the ownership group for letting us operate on the highest level by bringing in talented players and great people. Our goal for the upcoming season is to bring another ABA title to the great fans in Rochester."

Baker has over 29 years experience as a head coach or assistant coach in both collegiate and professional basketball. He joined the RazorSharks last season after serving as the Head Coach and Director of Basketball Operations for Harlem Globetrotters International from 2003 to 2005. Baker previously was a head coach professionally at Grand Rapids where he led them to the CBA championship game in 2003, at the University of California-Irvine (Division I) and Tufts University (Division III). He also served as an assistant coach at Rutgers University, the University of Cincinnati, Seton Hall, St. Joseph's University, Columbia University and Brown University.

Baker's international coaching experience includes stints as an assistant coach for the 1995 USA Basketball Men's Team at the World University Games in Japan and the 1993 USA Basketball Men's Team at the World University Games in Buffalo, New York. Both teams went undefeated and captured the gold medal. He has also hosted clinics and lectured on basketball in Belgium and Ireland.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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