
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 30, 1994                   TAG: 9408300087
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE: MINNEAPOLIS                                LENGTH: Short

EX-VMI COACH LANDS HEAD JOB WITH T'WOLVES

Bill Blair, the basketball coach at VMI in its most memorable season, was introduced Monday as the new head coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.

Blair won Southern Conference championships as a player and coach at VMI, which reached the final eight of the NCAA Tournament in his final season.

Blair, who was the head coach at Colorado from 1976-81, took his first NBA job as an assistant to Larry Brown with the Denver Nuggets and rejoined Brown this year at Indiana. Blair also coached for the New York Nets - once serving as interim head coach for two weeks - Indiana, and Washington.

Timberwolves general manager Jack McCloskey said Blair, 52, signed a multiple-year contract. No financial details were disclosed. Blair succeeds Sidney Lowe, who was fired at the end of the season.

``We are excited to bring in a coach the caliber of Bill Blair,'' McCloskey said. ``He impressed everyone with his knowledge and direction. He has been a part of some quality coaching staffs, and he knows what it takes to be successful in this league.''

Over the past five seasons, the Timberwolves have compiled the worst record in the NBA.

``My only regret about pro ball is that I would have liked to be a head coach,'' said Blair on a visit to VMI in 1993. ``I just haven't had the opportunity.''

by CNB