Hide Article Text (OCR)
Former Flash figures find successMen's and Women'sRegularly S45.00Regularly $80.00Men's TEVARegularly $75.00• -v • - •Women's SIMPLEINGRIDRegularly $70.00Women's TEVAPRETTY RUGGEDRegularly $75.00Regularly S60.00Women's TEVAUNIVERSALRegularly $70.00ADIDASRegularly $27.00Regularly $25.00adidasThe Galleria 111 East Pitt StreetJohnstown Bedford 623-6412 266-1449 Mon,-Sat,, 9 A.M.-8 P.M.; Sun,, 12 Noon-5 P.M790 North Center Avenue Logan Valley Mall Indiana MallSomerset 445-7226 Altoona IndianaMon,-Sat,, 9 A.M.-9 P.M.; Sun,, 12 Noon-4 P.M. 946-3219 465-4380Carpet *Vinyl •Laminates •CeramicsOutlet(814) 535*3588 411 Ohio St., Johnstown)l-800-RUG TIMEFREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICEBy HUGH CONRADFOR THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRATWhile St. Francis College is a small school, the Red Flash men’s basketball team has produced a number of great players, with the best-known being the late National Basketball Association star Maurice Stokes.However, three people with Red Flash ties are playing prominent roles today for some of the more successful franchises in the NBA.Scott Layden played for the Flash for four years (1977-80), graduating in 1980; Jeff Bower, a 1983 graduate of St. Francis, served as an undergraduate assistant to coach Dave Magarity for four years (1979-84); and Jeff Nix coached for three years (1981-84) under Dave Magarity and Kevin Porter.Layden has been with the Utah Jazz for the past 18 years, presently serving as vice president of basketball operations. Nix is an assistant coach with the New York Knicks. Bower, a native of Hollidaysburg, is director of scouting for the Charlotte Hornets.While they started slowly in this strike-marred year, the Knicks have reached the Eastern Conference championship against the Indiana Pacers.Nix, 40. in his sixth year with the Knicks, has developed a reputation as one of the best technicians in the game. To understand his value, consider the quality of coaches who hired him to work with them. He coached at Xavier under Pete Gillin and at Notre Dame under both Digger Phelps and John MacLeod.One of the greatest testaments to his ability was when Nix was hired by former Los Angeles Lakers and present Miami Heat coach Pat Riley to join the Knicks in 1993.“It was such an honor to coach with (Riley),” Nix said. “I learned so much from him in the three years that I coached with him. He is so organized and is ready for every situation. He never takes anything for granted.”Nix served as the advance scout for the Knicks for his first two years in New York. He preceded the team into the next city, presenting a scouting report and game plan on the opponent. While he spent 15 years coaching in the college ranks, when the opportunity to move to the NBA presented itself, he jumped at the opportunity.“I have never actively pursued a job except” for the one with the Knicks, the former Red Flash assistant said. “But John MacLeod approached me and said that Pat Riley had an opening since Paul Silas left the Knicks. John had coached Pat in Phoenix and knew him. Pat trusted his judgment and it all fell together.”Bower moved through the college ranks to the pros is the result of a solid work ethic and a willingness to set goals. A 1979 graduate of Hollidaysburg High School, he matriculated at St. Francis, hoping to earn a degree in history and coach at the high school level.I just contacted (coach Dave Magarity) when I got to St. Francis and said that I wanted to be a coach someday,” Bower recalled. I wanted to see if my work study (grant)LaydenBowerwould allow me to do things around the office so that I could learn as much as possible.”Not only did he help around the office, Magarity offered Bower a position as an undergraduate assistant coach. He worked with the Flash for four years. “It was great to be around and learn from Dave and from Jeff (Nix),” Bower said. “Watching what they did gave me such a great head start in many areas. I did not realize it until later.” After graduating from St. Francis, Bower coached with Bruce Parkhill at Penn State for three years beforerejoining Magarity at Marist for nine years. He was hired by the Hornetsin 1994.Bower became interested in the professional game while he was coaching in college.“(Coaching in the NBA) was a target that I had set years ago, he recalled. “I went out to Los Angeles one summer to coach in the summer pro league and spent about six weeks out there. I thought that it would be a great learning experience to coach at that level.”In his first two years with the Hornets, Bower served as an advance scout and was subsequently promoted into the position of head scout in 1997. “My duties go into two different areas,” Bower said. No. 1,I do all of our advance scouting before we play an opponent. The other part is that 1 am in charge of all college scouting, coordinating with our scouts and getting everything prepared for the NBA draft.” Layden’s move to the upper echelon of the NBA is not surprising, although he admits that his playing career with the Red Flash was not spectacular. “I was fortunate to go to St. Francis,” the 1980 graduate said. “Sitting on the bench pretty much sums up my career. I just was not good enough to play at St. Francis. But I played for two outstanding men in coaches Pete Lonergan and Dave Magarity.”After graduating from St. Francis, he spent a year coaching at Fair-leigh Dickinson University. Layden then was given an opportunity to join his father, Frank, who was then head coach with the Jazz. That coaching relationship with his father is one that he will cherish forever. “I felt like I was in class every day,” Scott said. “It was the most fun that I have ever had in basketball. Most sons are trying to get as far away from their fathers as they can when they graduate from college. But it was an outstanding experience for me for eight years.”His duties with the Jazz cover a wide area. “I do a lot of scouting ofcollege players.” Layden said. “I also contact other pro teams for potential trades. I work on acquiring free agents. It is a fun job.”Layden has developed a reputation for excellence in player acquisition, which has led to interest in him from other teams. He has acquired players who were instrumental to the Jazz advancing in the NBA playoffs during the past few years. The players include Jeff Hor-nacek, Greg Ostertag, Shannon Anderson, Chris Morris, and Antoine Carr.Nix, Bower and Layden have ambitions and are keeping their doors open.“Eventually, I would like to be a head coach,” Nix said. “But you have to bide your time and then pick and choose. I will know when that time comes and when I am ready for it.”Bower realizes that the NBA experience will aid him in head coaching at either the college or NBA level. “1 have always wanted to get the NBA experience before moving along in the college game,” Bower said. “I would love to coach at either level.Layden, the father of four girls, does not wish to return to coaching and prefers to focus on his family.I have a good job now and am just focused on doing this,” he said about his duties with the Jazz. “I love living out there (in Salt Lake City). It is a great place to raise a family.”So while many Red Flash basketball fans think of Maurice Stokes, Norm Van Lier, Kevin Porter or Mike Iuzzolino when they talk about the NBA-St. Francis connection, the Loretto college has some close ties with the professional game right now, and likely for years to come.The Name You Grew Up With...Va kJISKTir SHOE REPAIRYANKEE FACTORY, Inc.For Expert New Shoe Fittings Orthopedic Regular230 Bedford St., Johnstown (814) 536-7747 MasterCard, Visa, DiscoverFree customer parking while shopping at Yankee
Newspaper Details
Johnstown Tribune Democrat
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, US
Thu, Jun 10, 1999
Page 19
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
NY, USA 11 Jul 2020
Other Publications Near Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown Tribune Democrat
Johnstown Somerset the Tribune Democrat
Johnstown Weekly Democrat
