MBA head coaching changes for Season 52

THREE COACHING CHANGES

Three MBA franchises have announced head coaching changes prior to Season 52, including the replacement of the longest-serving head coach and the most charismatic mobster coach in the league.

DALLAS DEMONS -- Country Slaughter, who was at the helm of this team for a record 35 seasons, was replaced by former Demons star Buzzy Bazinski. 

   Slaughter became the Dallas head coach in Season 17 and was at the mythical helm of the franchise for all five of their championships (Seasons 20, 21, 28, 46 and 47). Slaughter's teams made the playoffs 20 times, including a string of 7 in a row from Seasons 18 through 24 (which included 6 consecutive division titles, 2 league championships and 4 consecutive Finals appearances) and 7 post-season trips in a row again from Seasons 41 through 47 (which included titles in Season 46 and 47, the latter being the only unbeaten campaign in MBA history). 

  The Demons, however, have failed to make the playoffs the last four seasons, matching the longest post-season drought during Slaughter's tenure.

   Stepping into the head coach spot will be Bazinski, a key member (as center) of those 6 division championship teams that led to titles in Seasons 20 and 21). The 6-11 Bazinski started all 7 seasons for Dallas in his career, averaging 10.1 ppg and shooting 64.1 percent overall. He led the team in rebounding 3 times, in steals 2 times, in blocked shots 4 times. His standout passing was a mainstay on those teams, as the big man led the team in helpers 4 times, averaging over 3 assists per games in 5 of his 7 campaigns. He averaged an amazing 3.1 assists per game for his career. He was a standout Tier 2 player.

Slaughter's record

193-157 regular season record (55.1%)

44-45 in playoffs (49.4%)

237-202 overall (54.0%)

SACRAMENTO RIVER DOGS -- Replaced popular mob boss Frankie Pantangeli when the latter was found dead in his bathtub with slashed wrists. "Frankie Five Angels" was at the helm for 13 seasons, including the best River Dogs stretch ever from Seasons 44 through 48, when they won their only 2 titles and went to the Finals four out of five years. 

   "We were thinking of drying Frankie off, pumping his body with formaldehyde and propping him up on a chair on the sidelines," said team owner Dave Masterson. "But instead, we'll keep him in the lobby where fans can see him during home games."

   Pantangeli will be replaced by frat boy Theta Ty, who has no previous ties to the Sacramento franchise.

   "We wanted to go the opposite direction from the Cosa Nostra thing," Masterson said. 'What could be more different than a fresh-faced kid with a pledge beanie."

   Theta Ty was in and out of the cut pile in four of his 6 seasons in the MBA, playing parts of two seasons with both Seattle and Charleston, then 3 straight campaigns with San Jose. A 6-8 center, his best season was Season 19 when he started 5 games at for the Fighting Amigos and averaged 15 points per game.

  "He's known for getting around the rules of the sport," Masterson observed of the Fifth Tier player. "We're hoping he can get around the expected losses in the next few seasons."

Pantangeli's record

71-59 regular season record (.54.6%)

15-11 in playoffs (57.7%)

86-70 overall (55.1%)

SEATTLE STAMPEDE -- Replaced 8-season coach Kingsford Briquettes with once-popular Stampede guard Ray Blaze.

  Briquettes managed two playoff appearances in his stint as main man for Seattle, with back-to-back second-place finishes in the West Division in Seasons 48 and 49. The Season 49 team made it all the way to the Finals before falling.  Half of his 8 seasons were 5-5 years, but he was never able to post a winning record in any campaign. 

  Blaze played his first four seasons of a 9-year career with Seattle. A reliable guard, he was a double-digit scorer and always a starter, shooting 59.8 percent for his career and making 3 All Star Game appearances. He led his team in scoring once, in rebounds once, in assists 7 times, in steals once, in shooting percentage once and in free throwing 5 times. He led the league in free throwing once. He is the number one player in the Tier Two retired envelope. He was a starter on the Season 10 Houston championship team.

Briquette's record

31-49 regular season record (38.8%)

3-6 playoff record (33.3%)

34-55 overall (38.2%)

THE REST OF THE MBA COACHES

LOS ANGELES--Naceg Gecan...entering 6th season

SAN JOSE--Augustus McCrae...entering 16th season

GILLETTE--Tiger Masterson...entering 2nd season

PHILADELPHIA--Stu Nod...enterin 16th season

MILWAUKEE--Frank Pettis...entering 3rd season

CHARLESTON--Bill Rustler...entering 35th season (now the dean of all MBA coaches)

OKLAHOMA CITY--Grady Booch...entering 3rd season