August 23, 2011

MU Basketball to Host Coaching Clinic Sept. 18

MACON, Ga. – Mercer University’s basketball head coaches – Susie Gardner and Bob Hoffman – will pool their collective experience for a one-day Basketball Coaching Clinic on Sunday, September 18, 2011 from 2-6 p.m. in the University Center. The clinic will also feature guest speaker Bill Peterson, assistant coach of the NBA Milwaukee Bucks.

Between them, Gardner and Hoffman have 616 collegiate coaching wins and 48 years of experience on the hardwood sidelines.

Peterson enters his fourth season as Bucks' assistant coach/player development after being named to the position on June 4, 2007. Before joining the Bucks, Peterson served as an associate head coach to Dale Layer at Colorado State University for seven seasons. Prior to his stint with the Rams, Peterson served as a player development coach and scout for the Dallas Mavericks where he worked to develop younger players like Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Michael Finley and Greg Buckner. He also served as a special assistant with the Golden State Warriors to work with Sarunas Marciulionis, one of the first international players to compete in the NBA.

Cost of the Coaching Clinic is $10 per person (admission cost is mandatory per NCAA rules). Cost includes a t-shirt, meal and clinic notebook. On-court instruction will be provided by the coaching staffs from the Bears’ women’s and men’s programs.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP prior to Sept. 14 to either women’s assistant Rhet Wierzba or men’s assistant Jake Nelp. Wierzba can be reached by phone at (478) 301-2545 or e-mail at Wierzba_rm@mercer.edu. Nelp’s phone number is (478) 301-2509 and via e-mail at nelp_jt@mercer.edu.

Information sheets for the Coaching Clinic may be downloaded at MercerBears.com and then go to either the women’s or men’s basketball home page.

The Coaching Clinic is co-sponsored by adidas, Chick-fil-A, Team Sports and Five Star Automotive Group.