Sixers name assistant coaching staff

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that Head Coach Doug Collins has named his coaching staff for the upcoming season.  Michael Curry will serve as associate head coach while Brian James and Quin Snyder have been added as assistant coaches.  In addition, Aaron McKie will return in his role as an assistant coach.  Collins was named head coach of the Sixers back on May 21, 2010.

James and McKie will coach the Sixers in the Orlando Pro Summer League which begins on Monday, July 5.

Curry last served as head coach of the Detroit Pistons in 2008-09, taking the team to the playoffs in his only season at the helm.  He played 11 seasons in the NBA and spent four years as President of the NBA Players Association.  Curry was also an assistant coach for the Pistons in 2007-08, the NBA Development League’s Vice President of Player Development in 2005-06 and the NBA Vice President of Basketball Operations in 2006-07.

Following his senior season at Georgia Southern in 1989-90, Curry went undrafted and would not make his NBA debut until a brief 10-game stint with the Sixers at the start of the 1993-94 season.  It wasn’t until he joined the Collins-coached Pistons during the 1995-96 season that Curry began to carve his niche in the league.

James owns 11 years of NBA coaching experience, including four as a lead assistant.  He most recently served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks for three seasons from 2005-06 through 2007-08.  Since then, James has done advance scouting for numerous NBA teams.

In addition to Milwaukee, James has held coaching positions with Washington (2001-03), Toronto (1998-2001) and Detroit (1995-98).  His stints with the Wizards and Pistons came as a member of Collins’ staff.

Snyder joins the Sixers staff following a successful three-year run as head coach of the Austin Toros in the NBA D-League.  He compiled a winning percentage of .627 with the Toros and led the team past the first round of the playoffs each year, including an appearance in the championship game his first season.  Snyder earned the D-League’s Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award in 2008-09.

Prior to his time with the Toros, Snyder coached the University of Missouri for seven seasons, posting a mark of 128-96 (.571).  Under Snyder, the Tigers made six consecutive post season appearances, including four trips to the NCAA Tournament and a berth in the Elite Eight.  Snyder played his collegiate career at Duke and was part of three Final Four teams (1986, 1988, 1989).

McKie recently completed his third season as an assistant coach with Philadelphia and has exhibited a strong influence in the development of the Sixers roster.  The local product played 13 seasons in the NBA, highlighted by a trip to the Finals with Philly in 2001.  He was also named Sixth Man of the Year that season.