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Wednesday, September 4, 2002The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PaPage BSNATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONBy HUGH CONRADFOR THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRATWhen JetY Bower graduated from Hollidaysburg Area High School in 1979, he knew that he eventually wanted to coach basketball - somewhere, somehowcBut as he entered St. Francis College, Bower realized that if he wanted to achieve success in that profession, he would have to start at the bottom. The 18-year-old student approached then-Red Flash head coach Dave Magarity, hoping that perhaps the Flash mentor would allow him to help out with the team.Bower was willing to be a manager, a go-fer -anything to help the team, and ultimately, to learn how to coach.Magarity afforded Bower a golden opportunity, and the student has demonstrated that he was an apt pupil, working his way through the college ranks to the upper echelon of the National Basketball Association.While the St. Francis student earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education/History in 1983, he also became proficient as a student of the game of basketball, serving as a graduate assistant coach with Magarity for four seasons.Bower’s story of success evokesSt. Francis grad now GM of New Orleans Hornetsimages of the American Dream, a rags-to-riches saga worthy of Horatio Alger status.He advanced through the college and professional ranks to his current position of General Manager of the NBA’s New Orleans (formerly Charlotte) Hornets.“I have always been really lucky to be around a lot of good people who went out of their way to help me out,” Bower said during a telephone interview from his New Orleans office. I think what really helped me is that I had an idea and knowledge that I wanted to coach.And I have always had people help me in that direction.”Bower has been with the Hornets for Five vears, advanc-%/ 9ing from scout and assistant coach to assistant general manager, and Finally, to his current position last summer. He works with Hornets’ Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bob Bass, coordinating player personnel decisions and the schedules for the entire scouting staff, including compiling data in preparation for the NBA Draft. He also reports on theNBAteam’s next opponent.After graduating from St. Francis, Bower joined former Penn State coach Bruce Parkhill as an assistant coach for the Nittany Lions. He stayed in Happy Valley for three seasons, and then rejoined Magarity, who had taken the head coaching position at Marist. Bower served as an assistant coach and then associate head coach at Marist over nine seasons.In his present job, he is responsible for all of the day-to-day operations of the team. In addition, he oversees the scouts who follow college players prior to the NBA Draft. In that area, he is a hands-on chief.“I’m still doing a good deal of college scouting,” Bower said about player evaluation. “I like to get out myself and see our prospects and then form my own opinion. I work with our scouts to get an idea, but ultimately, I have to be able to piece it all together.”Bower is one of three people with St. Francis ties who are now in the upper echelon of NBA management. Former SFC player Scott Layden ispresident and general manager of the New York Knicks, and former St. Francis assistant coach Jeff Nix is Layden’s assistant general manager.“I get to see Scott a great deal on the road,” Bower said. “We have had many dinners in New York, along writh Dave Magarity and (former Utah Jazz coach) Frank Layden (Scott’s father). We have had a lot of laughs about the old days.”But, while his basketball road has traversed paths from St. Francis to the Big Easy, Bower has not forgotten the message of former coaches who instilled in him the essential elements that allow players to become winners.“I played (basketball) for Jim Pfin-gstler and John Wiberg at Hollidaysburg, he said. “The two of them worked well together. Something that is always on my mind is that I always think back to when I played in junior high and high school. So many of the beliefs and values that I have today come from those coaches. Even now, when I am thinking about what this (Hornets) team should be about, I think of the former voices that I heard growing up. I really value those experiences, more thanyou can imagine.The Hornets made the move from Charlotte to New Orleans this summer. Bower hopes that the squad, coached by Paul Silas, will be able to make the move to the NBA Finals next season.“We are really excited about the upcoming year,” Bower said. “We have a great deal of experience coming back and the core of a great team returning. We had a really important signing when we got (guard) Baron Davis to a long-term contract. That solidifies his future with the team.Davis averaged 18.1 points, 8.5 assists (fourth in the NBA), 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals (fourth in the NBA) while playing in all 82 games last season.He was named to the NBA All-Star team, his first such award.The Hornets advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals in May before being eliminated by the New Jersey Nets.“We made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals the last two years, but last year, Jamal Mashburn was injured and we got knocked out of the playoffs without him,” Bower said. “If we are able to come back and throw him back into the mix, we are excited about our chances.”Jeff Bower1979 Hollidaysburg Area graduateMashburn led the Hornets in scoring with 21.5 points last season. But, the challenge for any NBA team is living under the salary cap.“We’ve been able to keep around certain guys and still stay below the salary cap,” Bower said. We have to manage it very strictly. We are in a position to be able to extend offers like that (to Davis), and we think that it is really going to pay off forus.MDavis has developed into one of the top players in the league despite being only 23 years old.
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Johnstown Tribune Democrat
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Sep 04, 2002
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