Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 11, 1990 TAG: 9007110006
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: AUBURN HILLS, MICH. LENGTH: Medium
The Detroit coach wants another ring. Daly spurned suitors from network television and other pro teams, announcing Tuesday that he will try to lead the Pistons to a third consecutive NBA title.
"I really don't know anything else," Daly said at a news conference. "This is what I've always done. I'm a basketball coach."
Pistons general manager Jack McCloskey announced that Daly would return under a new, multiyear contract. Details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Daly had been courted openly since June, when the Pistons won their second consecutive championship. Among the more persistent suitors were NBC, which wanted Daly as a color commentator, and the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets, who sought him as a general manager.
His old contract, which expired after the 1990-91 season, had an escape clause that would have expired Sunday. Under that contract, Daly's salary was about $500,000 a year.
Daly said he consulted with some of his players, including Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, and other NBA coaches before deciding to stay. He also talked with John Madden, former coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders and now an analyst for CBS, and Raiders managing general partner Al Davis.
"I wanted to make sure that I was capable of doing the job and could give it 110 percent, because you have to do that if you're going to try to win in this league," Daly said.
Daly's efforts have paid off handsomely for the Pistons.
Before Daly arrived in June 1983, Detroit never had consecutive winning seasons. Under Daly, the Pistons have been better than .500 for seven straight seasons.
Daly, 59, holds nearly every Pistons coaching record. His regular-season record is 378-237, and his playoff mark is 62-31, including 15-5 this year.
Daly widely is credited with successfully blending the talents and egos of a number of stars.
"We do the playing, but he keeps us going. He manages all these personalities and brings out the best in us."
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB