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Rivers_Hiring

MBB: Rivers Named Associate Head Coach of Men’s Basketball Program

Brings 17 Years of Professional Playing Experience

4/22/2014 11:53:00 AM

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State men's basketball program has announced the hiring of David Rivers as Associate Head Coach, it was made official on Tuesday.
 
Rivers joins first-year head coach Jimmy Lallathin and brings 17 years of professional basketball experience as well as All-American status at Notre Dame before becoming a first-round NBA draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers.
 
"I'm extremely excited and fortunate to add a coach with the background that David has as both a player and basketball mentor," said Lallathin. "Most importantly, David exudes the type of character that I want to surround this basketball program with. I will rely heavily on his knowledge and expertise to help to continue to build this program into what we know and expect it to be." 
 
Rivers started off his career in basketball as an NCAA Division I All-American point guard at the University of Notre Dame. While with the Irish, Rivers earned the Most Courageous Athlete of the Year award during the 1986-87 campaign while leading the Irish to four NCAA tournament berths.
 
While in South Bend, Ind., Rivers was named Notre Dame MVP for four consecutive seasons and was a team co-captain his sophomore, junior, and senior years under famed head coach Digger Phelps.
 
As a sophomore, Rivers led Notre Dame to a Sweet 16 appearance and ranks in the top 10 in the school's record books in scoring, assists and steals.
 
Prior to his collegiate experience, Rivers led St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City, N.J. to three straight state championships while becoming a McDonald's All-American player.
 
Upon his graduation from Notre Dame in 1988, Rivers was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers where he played along side Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Byron Scott, James Worthy and Michael Cooper, to name a few, under the tutelage of head coach Pat Riley.
 
Rivers spent three seasons in the NBA and spent time with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers before a two-year stint in the CBA for the Los Angeles Catbirds under Flip Saunders.
 
Following his professional career, in the United States, Rivers made his way into the European game, where he is credited as the catalyst for changing the overseas brand of basketball.
 
His first experience in Europe was in Antibes, France on the French Riviera with Coach Jacque Monclar, who recognized Rivers' leadership skills and named him team captain and coach on the floor. This recognition at the time was unheard of in Europe for Americans in their first year as foreign players.
 
With Rivers' knowledge of the game along with his leadership skills and physical abilities, Antibes Basketball Club went on to win two Championship Titles with Rivers earning MVP and France National honors.
 
Rivers went on to have his jersey retired by the club during his induction to Antibes Basketball Hall of Fame at the grand opening of the Clubs new basketball arena in October 2013.
 
In Athens, Greece, Rivers played for European powerhouse Olympiakos Piraeus under two legendary coaches, Giannis Ioannikdis, currently Ministry Director of Sports in Athens, Greece, and Coach Dusan Ivkovic, currently Head Coach of the Serbian National Team.
 
Rivers continued to exemplify his leadership skills as a coach and player on the court, leading Olympiakos to its first European Championship and the team's first Triple Crown by winning all three major championships in the same year.
 
Rivers was recognized with MVP Honors for all three championships, and was named National Player of the Year and was voted by the European media and sports journalist as European Player of the Year in 1997, making Rivers the first American ever to receive European basketball's highest honor in 50 years.
 
Rivers continued blazing his trail of an illustrious career, landing in Bologna, Italy playing in "Basketball City" for Teamsystem Fortitudo. Rivers would play with another NBA legend air-showmen Domonique Wilkins, along with one of Italy's greatest in Carlton Myers.
 
At the time, Fortitudo had assembled one of Europe's greatest teams during an era when basketball in Italy was at its highest level of competition.
 
Rivers would lead yet another Team to its first Championship by winning the Italian Cup Title where he also receive and shared Co-MVP Honors with Myers.
 
After Rivers departure of Fortitudo, Bologna's owner and general manager requested that Rivers join his organization to work as a coach and as a developer of Virtus' professional Junior Players during the 2009-2010 season.
 
David Rivers' career then took him to play in Bursa, Turkey, where the signing of Rivers was the sounding of the bell that Tofas not only wanted to compete, but also intended to be counted among the best.
 
Rivers played under Coaches Jasmin Repesa and Tolga Ongoren, and served as a leader for the squad on the floor. During Rivers' years with Tofas, the team would go on to win five championships with Rivers once again garnering recognition with multiple MVP Honors and National Player of the Year accolades in Turkey.
 
At the end of 2004-2005 basketball season, Rivers ended his professional basketball career in Europe with the very Team he started his European tour with, returning to Antibes, France, playing under Coach Serge Pavillion.
 
The Team finished the season as one of the hottest Teams in the French League, losing in the third round of the playoffs.
 
Since his retirement as a player, Rivers has been a proud partner and Director at Village Camps S.A. (VCSA) in Nyon, Switzerland for eight years. The company specializes in services that support education and higher learning through sports, performing arts and media technology.
 
Village Camps S.A. offers its Leysin, Switzerland campus base facilities to high schools and universities around the world, helping to establish sustainable international study abroad programs. VCSA provides language arts and leadership programs annually during summer and winter. VCSA has been operating since 1972 currently established in 9 countries celebrating 43 years of service with success.
 
Rivers will join the Owls immediately and will work closely alongside coach Lallathin in player development both on and off the court.

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State men's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsMBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 
-#GoKSUOwls-
 
Collegiate Playing Experience
Notre Dame – 1985-88
 
Professional Playing Experience
National Basketball Association (NBA)
Los Angeles Lakers – 1988-1989
Los Angeles Clippers – 1989-1991
Continental Basketball Association (CBA)
LaCrosse Catbirds – 1991-1992
Federal International Basketball Association (FIBA)
Olympique D'Antibes France – 1992-1994
Olympiakos Greece – 1995-1997
Teamsystem Foritudo Italy – 1997-1998
TOFAS Turkey – 1998-2000
Olympiakos Greece – 2000-2001
Olympique D'Antibes – France 2003-2004
 
Athletic Awards and Accomplishments
NBA First-Round Draft pick by the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Conference Championship with Los Angeles Lakers
Earned First Playoff Appearance in franchise history for the Los Angeles Clippers
CBA Championship with the Lacrosse Catbirds, and Playoff MVP
CBA League MVP
Two French National Championships with Olympique D'Antibes, and Playoff MVP
French League MVP
Two-Time French All-Star Team, All-Star Game Appearances and one Time MVP
Greek Cup Championship with Olympiakos, and Cup MVP
Two-Time Greek All-Star Team
Two Greek National Championships with Olympiakos, and Playoff MVP
Italian Cup Championship with Teamsystem Fortitudo, and Cup MVP
Italian All-Star Team
Two Turkish Cup Championships with TOFAS, and Cup MVP
Two Turkish National Championships with TOFAS, and Playoff MVP
Turkish League MVP
Two-Time Turkish All-Star Team
European All-Star Team, Four Consecutive Seasons
European All-Star "Crystal Player Award" – MVP
European Championship with Olympiakos
European Championship MVP
European Player of the Year – First American ever to be selected by sports journalist and media
Top 25 Notre Dame Athletes of All-Time, Centennial Basketball Celebration


 
 
 
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