THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 18, 1994 TAG: 9406180345
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940618 LENGTH: NORFOLK
But for Nate ``Tiny'' Archibald, the coach of the Connecticut Skyhawks, the league's catch phrase has a broader meaning.
{REST} ``The USBL is an opportunistic league, not just for players, but coaches, too,'' Archibald said Friday at a press conference to promote tonight's game at 7:30 between the Skyhawks and the Atlanta Trojans at the ODU field house.
``I like to think the NBA is looking at untapped talent, and not just players.''
The USBL didn't exist when Archibald was a player.
But then again, he didn't need it.
A second-round draft pick out of Texas Western in 1970, Archibald played 14 years in the NBA and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
But after working for years with youth in his native New York City, Archibald is hoping to break into coaching, and is trying to prove himself in the USBL.
``Coaching is one of my dreams,'' Archibald said. ``But it's not the only one.''
Most of Archibald's post-basketball career has been devoted to working with youths in his native New York.
A career development counselor for the New York City school system, Archibald has coached youth teams and founded his own succesful program, the Urban Career and Sports Academy, which gives inner-city kids an inside look at the workings of major corporations.
Archibald nearly realized his coaching dream at Norfolk State three years ago, when he interviewed for the men's basketball job that went instead to current Spartan coach Mike Bernard.
``I liked it,'' Archibald said. ``I got some real-estate books. I was ready. I would have had fun.''
He's still having fun, he says. No matter where he's coaching.
``Even if I don't coach in the NBA or college, I'm still going to coach, to teach, to mentor,'' Archibald said. ``It's not just about basketball.''
\ NOTES: Don't look for many familiar names on either roster. In fact, Dick Vitale would probably have trouble indentifying most of the Atlanta and Connecticut players. But that's the nature of the league.
The league-leading Trojans are led by former Fayetteville State star Darrell Armstrong and former Temple player Mark Strickland. They also feature former Old Dominion point guard Chuck Evans, who finished his career at Mississippi State. Connecticut has been led by forward Pervires Greene of West Virginia and Godfrey Thompson of Jackson State.
by CNB