Basketball Staff 69 70 71 72 64-68 73-74 CHING STAFF A 2006-07 CO Head Coach Tom Penders Tom Head Coach Associate Head Coach Melvin Haralson Assistant Coach Kevin Lewis Senior Preston Trey Assistant Coach Young Director of Operations Michael Support Staff Third Team and an All-Region selection by the National Association of Bas- Tom ketball Coaches.

taff Following this two-year success, Houston athletics director Dave

S Maggard awarded Penders a new five-year contract. Penders Throughout his career as a coach and player, Penders

all Head Coach always had an eye on Houston, in one way or another. b Third Season at UH “When I was playing in college, Elvin Hayes, Ken Spain and Don 33rd Season as a head coach Chaney were playing here,” Penders said. “Even before that, Jack Thompson, Connecticut, 1967 a former player from New York, had led the Cougars to the NIT in 1962.” Later, as a high school coach, he met Houston’s legendary coach Basket Guy V. Lewis when he took his high school team to watch the Cougars play Ranked among the Top Eight active NCAA Division I Head Coaches, Long Island University in New York’s Madison Square Garden on February Tom Penders enters his third season at the University of Houston with a 4, 1971. Over the years, he watched Lewis turn the Cougars into a peren- 566-385 career record after leading Houston to a combined 39 wins in the nial national power and patterned his teams’ style of play after the style the last two seasons. Cougars played under Lewis. Last season, Penders invited Lewis to talk to In his first season, Penders guided the Cougars to the nation’s fourth- his team before the Cougars beat Memphis. Following the school’s 1,000th best turnaround year with an 18-14 overall record and a record-setting sea- victory, he presented the game ball to Lewis, simultaneously honoring the son in 2004-05. Houston finished that year with a sixth-place finish in the man and his place in Cougar history. Conference USA regular season standings with a 9-7 record, led the nation A year after his first meeting with Lewis, Penders began his collegiate in turnover margin and set both team and individual school records for most coaching career. At each stop, his teams not only won, they captured a na- three-point field goals made in a season. tional audience with their record-setting styles of play. His teams at Texas The Cougars captivated a national television audience on January and George Washington set school records for most points in a season, and 5, when ESPN aired the final minutes of their 70-67 upset over 16th-ranked renewed fan interest at each school. and eventual NCAA Final Four participant Louisville. The next month, ESPN It was at Texas where Penders helped rebuild an intense rivalry be- televised the Cougars’ 66-53 victory over NIT semifinalist Memphis, Hous- tween the Longhorns and Houston. Each game between the two schools ton’s 1,000th win in school history. was important in the Southwest Conference standings and often produced Penders also tutored Andre Owens that year when Owens was sellout crowds. named All-Conference USA Second Team selection after leading the league “When I coached against the Cougars in the Southwest Conference, in scoring with 18.3 points per game. Last year, Owens was a member of the I liked the atmosphere when we played here, and enjoyed visiting a major NBA’s . city,” Penders said. “When (Houston athletics director Dave Maggard) called, In just his second season, Penders led the Cougars to their first it clicked right away. I said this is the perfect job for me.” 20-win season, first back-to-back winning seasons and first back-to-back postseason tournament appearances since 1992-93. He also led Houston to back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked teams for the first time since the 1984 NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament and their first postseason tourna- ment victory since 1988 in his first two years at the school. Houston finished the 2005-06 campaign with a 2-2 record against na- tionally-ranked teams after beating No. 25 LSU on November 29 and 13th- ranked Arizona December 3 in a nationally-televised game on ESPN2. Both of the losses came at Memphis when the Tigers were ranked No. Three on March 4 and No. Five on March 10. Following the wins over LSU and Arizona, Houston was ranked Num- ber 25 in the December 12, 2005 Associated Press Poll, marking the first time since 1992-93 that the Cougars had been nationally-ranked by the AP poll. In Conference USA play, Houston set a school record with its highest winning percentage in Conference USA play when the Cougars finished the year with a 9-5 record. The nine C-USA wins also tied a school record. Houston also finished fourth in the league’s regular season stand- ings, the highest C-USA finish in school history, and reached the semifinals of the C-USA Postseason Tournament for just the second time since joining the league in 1996-97. Houston’s postseason tournament victory was against BYU in the first round of the 2006 NIT. It also was Penders’ first career victory in the NIT, and marked the first time his team played a home game in the NIT Tournament. Houston led the nation in steals with a 12.4 average, and the Cou- gars finished second in turnover margin with an average margin of +7.5. Both Oliver Lafayette and Ramon Dyer earned All-Conference USA Second Team honors last season, while Lanny Smith was named All-C-USA

64 2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM In the National Limelight b

Penders came to Houston after spending three years as an analyst asket for ESPN and Westwood One Radio. He started this new career away from coaching after spending three years as head coach at George Washington (1998-2001). There, Penders compiled a 49-42 record and led the Colo- b

nials to the 1999 NCAA Tournament. He also guided George Washington staff all to an Atlantic 10 West Division title his first year. In his second year, George Washington finished second in the A-10 standings, and the Colonials set a school record for points scored in a season. His third team at GW advanced to the semifinals of the A-10 Tournament before losing to eventual champion Temple. Penders went to George Washington after gaining national fame by leading highly successful programs at Texas and Rhode Island. He spent 10 seasons as the head coach at Texas and set a school record with 208 victo- ries while leading the Longhorns to three Southwest Conference Champion- ships and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. In the NCAA Tournament, Penders led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight in 1990 and to the Sweet 16 in 1997. While averaging 20.8 wins per season at Texas, his Longhorn teams averaged 87.2 points per game and forced over 19 turnovers per contest. Penders ended his tenure at Texas with a 208-110 record in 10 seasons. When Penders took over the Texas program in 1988, he inherited a team that won 16 games the year before and averaged 4,028 fans in a 16,231- seat arena. In the four-year span before Penders’ arrival, Texas was 64-55 and had not won over 20 games in a season in nine years. Penders branded his team the “Runnin’ Horns” and spoke to every He went to Rhode Island after heading the basketball program at alumnus and booster group in the state. His first team finished second in Fordham for eight years and compiling a 125-114 record. There, he took the Southwest Conference and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The over a program that was 8-18, and within three years, guided it to the first Longhorns also set 22 school and SWC records while more than doubling of a school-record five straight NIT appearances. In his eight seasons, he their attendance average to 10,011 per game, the largest increase in NCAA led the Rams to 19 wins four times and 18 victories once. In the process, 51 Division I. of his 53 players earned degrees (the other two transferred and eventually In 1990, Texas surprised most college basketball fans across the na- graduated). In 1981, Penders was named the New York Metropolitan Area tion by advancing to the Elite Eight as a number 10 seed in the NCAA’s Mid- Coach of the Year after leading Fordham to a 19-9 record. west Regional and was just three points shy of advancing to the Final Four, Before his stint at Fordham, Penders coached at Columbia for four losing to the fourth seeded and SWC rival, Arkansas, 88-85. The 1990-91 seasons. The Lions were 5-20 the year before his arrival and his first re- season saw Texas finish second in the SWC, advance to the second round cruiting class couldn’t play for a year because the Ivy League did not allow of the NCAA and finish 23rd in the AP rankings. Penders led the Longhorns freshmen to play. to SWC championships in 1992, 1994 and 1995. The Runnin’ Horns also After two years, Penders led the school to back-to-back winning sea- reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1997. sons. Columbia finished the 1976-77 campaign with a 16-10 record. The following year, the Lions were 15-11 and finished second in the Ivy League First Sweet 16 standings. At the time, it was Columbia’s best Ivy League finish in school Penders went to Texas after leading Rhode Island to the 1988 NCAA history. Sweet 16 after beating Missouri and Syracuse in the first two rounds. Rhode Penders began his collegiate coaching career at Tufts in 1971, taking Island lost, 73-72, to Duke in the Sweet 16 game. over a 1-17 team and turning it around with 12-8, 22-4 and 20-6 records in Penders took over Rhode Island’s program on October 4, 1986. With each of the next three seasons. only two weeks to prepare for preseason practice, he and Temple’s John One of his players, Willie Young, also set a school record for most Chaney were named the Atlantic 10 Co-Coaches of the Year after Penders points in a season and ranks second among the school’s all-time scoring took the Rams to a 20-10 record and a berth into the NIT in his first year. leaders. In the Fall of 2004, Tufts awarded Penders the school’s “Outstand-

Tom Penders’ career Record Years------School------Record------Pct.------Postseason Tournaments 1972-74------Tufts------54- 18------.750 1975-78------Columbia------43- 60------.417 1979-86------Fordham------125-114------.523------Five NIT Appearances 1986-88------Rhode Island------48- 17------.739------One NCAA (Sweet 16), One NIT 1989-98------Texas------208-110------.654------Eight NCAA Tournaments (Elite Eight, Sweet 16, Second Round four times) 1999-01------George Washington------49- 42------.538------One NCAA 2004-06------Houston ------39- 24------.619------Two NIT Tournaments (NIT Second Round in 2006) Totals------32 Seasons------566-385------.595

2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 65 his high school’s greatest athletes at Stratford High School. He led the state in scoring and the All-MBIAC All-Star team after av-

taff eraging nearly 15 points per game as a junior and serving as a valuable sixth

S man as a sophomore. In baseball, Penders started for three years as a pitcher, shortstop

all and center fielder. He also was the Student Council President as a senior b after serving as Vice President during his junior year and President of his sophomore class in 1960-61. Penders went on to the University of Connecticut, where he starred as a center fielder for the baseball team and a point guard for the basketball Basket team. He served as team captain for both teams as a senior and quarter- backed the Husky basketball team to a combined 59-16 record during his career. Penders is one of a select group of student-athletes who participated in both the NCAA Tournament (1965 and 1967) and the College World Se- ries (1965). Penders was considered for the school’s All-Century team in 2001 after leading the Huskies to two Yankee Conference championships. In 2001, he received the highest honor given by UConn Athletics when the school presented him the Red O’Neill Award for Lifetime Achievement. The Hartford Courant also named Penders as one of the three greatest athletes in the 21st Century from the Town of Stratford. Upon graduation, the Cleveland Indians drafted Penders in the ninth round of the 1968 Major League Draft. In his one season as a professional baseball player, he played for the Indians’ Class A team at Rock Hill and was selected a Western Carolina League All-Star third baseman after hitting ing Achievement Award”. .343. Following the All-Star game, he finished the year hitting .302 at Rock Penders went to Tufts after a highly successful high school coaching Hill before being promoted to Cleveland’s Class AA affiliate at Waterbury. career in Connecticut at Bullard Havens Tech and Bridgeport Central High Penders retired from baseball after the season and began his career School. He posted a 59-10 record in his three seasons as a high school as a basketball coach in 1969. He also played fast-pitch softball during his coach. In his first year as a head coach, Penders took a Bullard Havens Tech early years as a coach and was a member of five ASA National Champion- team that had only one player over six feet tall and a record of 4-14 the year ship teams in 1969, 1970, 1972, 1976 and 1983. He was also named a before and guided the team to a 14-6 record. The next year, he inherited a First-Team All-American center fielder in 1975 and 1976. He also played 7-13 team at Bridgeport and led the team to a 23-2 record and a number two for the USA Team that finished in a three-way tie for first place at the 1983 ranking in the state. The following year, he was named the New York Daily World University Games before being inducted into the Connecticut Softball News Coach of the Year after leading Bridgeport to a 20-1 mark and Number Hall of Fame in 1989. One ranking. On October 6, 2006, Penders and his 1972-73 Tufts team were in- Basketball and Baseball Player at UConn ducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. A native of Stratford, Conn., Penders established himself as one of Penders and his wife, Susie, have three children— Wendy, Tommy, Jr., a current basketball coach at Angleton High School in Angleton, Texas,

Tom Penders’ Year-by-Year Coaching Record Year------School------Record------Pct.------Postseason Year------School------Record------Pct.------Postseason 1971-72------Tufts------12-8------.600 1988-89------Texas------25- 9------.735------NCAA (2) 1972-73------Tufts------22-4------.846 1989-90------Texas------24- 9------.727------NCAA (8) 1973-74------Tufts------20-6------.769 1990-91------Texas------23- 9------.719------NCAA (2) 1974-75------Columbia------4-22------.154 1991-92------Texas------23-12------.657------NCAA 1975-76------Columbia------8-17------.320 1992-93------Texas------11-17------.393 1976-77------Columbia------16-10------.615 1993-94------Texas------26- 8------.765------NCAA (2) 1977-78------Columbia------15-11------.577 1994-95------Texas------23- 7------.767------NCAA (2) 1978-79------Fordham------7-22------.318 1995-96------Texas------21-10------.677------NCAA (2) 1979-80------Fordham------11-17------.393 1996-97------Texas------18-12------.600------NCAA (16) 1980-81------Fordham------19- 9------.679------NIT 1997-98------Texas------14-17------.452 1981-82------Fordham------18-11------.621------NIT 1998-99------George Washington------20- 9------.689------NCAA 1982-83------Fordham------19-11------.633------NIT 1999-00------George Washington------15-15------.500 1983-84------Fordham------19-15------.559------NIT 2000-01------George Washington------14-18------.437 1984-85------Fordham------19-12------.612------NIT 2004-05------Houston------18-14------.563------NIT 1985-86------Fordham------13-17------.433 2005-06------Houston------21-10------.677------NIT (2) 1986-87------Rhode Island------20-10------.667------NIT Totals------32 seasons------566-385------.595------10 NCAAs, 1987-88------Rhode Island------28- 7------.800------NCAA (16) 8 NITs Key: (2)- NCAA and NIT Second Round, (16) NCAA Sweet 16, (8) NCAA Elite Eight

66 2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM b

The Tom Penders File asket Birth Date: May 23, 1945 Hometown: Stratford, Conn. Alma Mater: Connecticut, 1967 Wife: Susie b

Children: Wendy, Tommy, Jr., Karli staff all

Playing Career Stratford High School, 1962-64 Led the state in scoring Named to the MBIAC All-Star game in basketball. Three-year letterman for the basketball and baseball teams.

University of Connecticut, 1965-67 NCAA Tournament, 1965 and 1967 Basketball team captain, 1967 College World Series, 1965 Baseball team captain, 1967

Cleveland Indians Baseball Draft, 1968 Ninth Round Class A- 1968 Class AA-1968

Head Coaching Career Bullard Havens High School (Conn.), 1968-69 Record: 16-7

Bridgeport High School (Conn.), 1969-71 Record: 43-3

Tufts University, 1971-74 Record: 54-18

Columbia University, 1974-78 Record: 43-60

Fordham University, 1978-86 Record: 125-114 NIT (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) and daughter, Karli. Metro Atlantic Tournament Champions (1983) Penders comes from quite a coaching family. In addition to Tom and Tommy, Jr. serving as basketball coaches, his father was a longtime baseball University of Rhode Island, 1987-88 coach at Stratford High School from 1931-68, and led the school to four state Record: 48-17 championships. His brother, Jim, is the baseball coach at East Catholic High NIT (1987) School, and was named the national high school Coach of the Year in 1996. NCAA (1988, Sweet 16) Just like his father, Jim won four state championships. His two nephews also are collegiate baseball coaches. Jim was University of Texas, 1988-98 named the head coach at Connecticut in 2003 after serving seven years as Record: 208-110 an assistant coach and playing four years for the Huskies. Rob serves is the NCAA (1989, 1990 Elite Eight, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Sweet 16) head baseball coach at St. Edwards University in Austin. Southwest Conference Championship (1992*, 1994, 1995) SWC Postseason Classic Champions (1994, 1995) *- Co-champion with Houston

George Washington University, 1998-2001 Record: 49-42 NCAA Tournament (1999) Atlantic 10 Western Division Champions (1999)

University of Houston, 2004-Present Record: 39-24 NIT Tournament (2005, 2006 Second Round)

2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 67 In his coaching career, Tom Penders has taken over six struggling programs and turned them into winners, and is the only NCAA Division I coach who can make Pe

that claim. The only time he took over a program which had been successful before he arrived was at George Washington. Below is a brief look how success has n followed Penders throughout his coaching career. de r s s Sp

all staff Bullard Havens Technical H.S. Fordham ells ells b Year------Record Year------Record 1967-68------4-14 1977-78------8-18 1968-69 (with Penders)------14-6 1978-79 (with Penders)------7-22 Succ asket

B 1979-80 (with Penders)------11-17

Bridgeport Central H.S. 1980-81 (with Penders)------19-9* ess Year------Record 1981-82 (with Penders)------18-11* 1968-69------7-13 1982-83 (with Penders)------19-11* 1969-70 (with Penders)------23-2 1983-84 (with Penders)------19-15* 1971-72 (with Penders)------20-1 1984-85 (with Penders)------19-12* 1985-86 (with Penders)------13-17 Tufts University Year------Record Rhode Island 1970-71------1-17 Year------Record 1971-72 (with Penders)------12-8 1985-86------9-19 1972-73 (with Penders)------22-4 1986-87 (with Penders)------20-10* 1973-74 (with Penders)------20-6 1987-88 (with Penders)------28-7#

Columbia Texas Year------Record Year------Record 1973-74------5-20 1987-88------16-13 1974-75 (with Penders)------4-22 1988-89 (with Penders)------25-9# 1975-76 (with Penders)------8-17 1989-90 (with Penders)------24-9# 1976-77 (with Penders)------16-10 1990-91 (with Penders)------23-9# 1977-78 (with Penders)------15-11 1991-92 (with Penders)------23-12# 1992-93 (with Penders)------11-17 1993-94 (with Penders)------26-8# 1994-95 (with Penders)------23-7# 1995-96 (with Penders)------21-10# 1996-97 (with Penders)------18-12# 1997-98 (with Penders)------14-17

George Washington Year------Record 1997-98 ------24-9# 1998-99 (with Penders)------20-9# 1999-00 (with Penders)------15-15 2000-01 (with Penders)------14-18

Houston Year------Record 2002-03------8-20 2003-04------9-18 2004-05 (with Penders)------18-14* Tom Penders served as a color analyst for Westwood One and ESPN for three 2005-06 (with Penders)------21-10* seasons before he was named Houston’s head coach in 2004. *- Played in NIT; # - Played in NCAA Tournament

68 2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM The Melvin haralson File Basket Melvin Birth Date: February 8, 1964 Hometown: Jackson, Miss. Alma Mater: Auburn, 1989 Wife: Tonia

Haralson Children: Isaiah b Associate Head Coach all Seventh Season at UH Playing Experience

18th Season Overall Year------School------Career Highlights S taff Auburn, 1989 1983-85------Lon Morris Junior College------All-American 1985-87------Auburn University------member of 1985-86 NCAA Elite Eight Team In his seventh season at the University of Houston, Melvin Haralson is in his third year as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. During Coaching Experience the past two seasons, Haralson helped guide the Cougars to 39 wins and con- Year------School------Title secutive postseason tournaments for the first time since 1993. Last year, the 2004-Present------Houston------associate head coach Cougars won back-to-back games over nationally-ranked teams for the first 2002-04------Houston------assistant coach time since 1984 and won 21 games for the first time since 1992-93 as well. Two 2001-02------Houston------director of basketball operations seasons ago, he helped the Cougars win 18 games and play in a postseason tournament for the first time in three years. 2000-01------Houston------administrative assistant During the last three springs as recruiting director, Houston’s recruiting 1995-00------North Texas------assistant coach classes have been nationally ranked. The Cougars were ranked 35th nation- 1990-95------Texas------assistant coach ally in the Spring of 2004, 15th in 2004-05 and 24th last year. 1988-90------Auburn------student assistant coach Haralson was a successful recruiter at each of his last two stops before coming to Houston in 2000. He helped North Texas sign one of the nation’s top 21 classes and the Southwest Region’s best recruiting class in 1998. Haralson was a member of Tom Penders’ staff at Texas from 1990-95, when the Long- horns signed two Top 10 nationally-ranked recruiting classes. Haralson came to Houston as an administrative assistant in 2000, a po- sition he held for one year, and was named the director of men’s basketball op- erations in 2001 before being promoted to assistant coach the following season. Haralson served two seasons as an assistant coach on Houston’s staff before Penders was named head coach, after which he was promoted to his current position. Before he joined Houston’s staff, Haralson was an assistant coach at North Texas for five seasons. He also served as the head assistant coach under Penders at Texas from 1990-95. There, the Longhorns won three South- west Conference championship teams and placed four teams in the NCAA Tournament. The two Top 10 nationally-ranked recruiting classes at Texas included three of the best players ever to play for the Longhorns, Terrance Rencher, Reggie Freeman and McDonald’s All-American Kris Clack. Rencher is the Longhorns’ all-time scoring leader and Freeman ranks third on the school’s career scoring list. Haralson began his coaching career as a student coach at his alma mater, Auburn University. He helped the Tigers reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament in 1988-89. Before he began his coaching career, Haralson was an Honorable- Mention All-American high school player at perennial powerhouse Murrah High School in Jackson, Miss. Haralson began his collegiate career at Lon Morris Junior College in Texas, where he earned Junior College All-American honors in 1984-85. He transferred to Auburn in 1985-86, and was a member of the Tigers’ Elite Eight NCAA Tournament team that beat UNLV in the Compaq Center in Houston. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1989 and was invited to the Los Angeles Clippers’ training camp before beginning his coaching career. He and his wife, Tonia, have a son, Isaiah.

2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 69 Kevin taff S Lewis

all Senior Assistant Coach

b First Season at UH Ninth Season Overall SMU, 1986 Basket Kevin Lewis begins his first season as the senior assistant coach at the University of Houston after serving the past nine seasons as an assistant coach at TCU, Baylor and New Mexico. He also spent eight years as a highly successful high school coach in Houston. As Houston’s senior assistant coach, Lewis will coach the Cougars’ post players and with recruiting. Lewis comes to Houston after spending the last four seasons at TCU, where he helped guide the Horned Frogs to the quarterfinals of the 2004 NIT with a 21-14 record. It was TCU’s first 20-win season and postseason tourna- ment appearance since 1999. He went to TCU after serving three seasons as an assistant coach at Baylor from 1999-2002 and one year as an assistant coach at New Mexico in 1998-99. Before he joined the collegiate coaching ranks, Lewis spent eight years as a high school coach in Houston. He served six years as the head coach at Episcopal High School and two seasons as the head coach at the Homeschool Christian Youth Association (HCYA), a program for students who are home- schooled. The Kevin Lewis File While he was at Episcopal, his teams won back-to-back Southwest Birth Date: November 6, 1964 Hometown: Highland Falls, N.Y. Preparatory Conference titles in 1995 and 1996. In addition several of his Alma Mater: SMU, 1986 Wife: Veronica players went on to play at the Division I level, including Ben Echols, who he Children: Kelvin, Kalvin, Kaillyn coached at Baylor in 1999-00. Lewis began his career as a coach after earning All-Southwest Confer- Playing Experience ence honors as a senior at SMU in 1985-86. Year------School------Career Highlights He was a four-year letterman at SMU, where he helped lead the Mus- 1983-86------SMU------1986 All-Southwest Conference First Team tangs to an 85-40 record and advance to three postseason tournaments. SMU Played on three postseason tournament teams played in the 1984 and 1985 NCAA Tournament, along with the 1986 NIT dur- ing his playing career. (1984 & 1985 NCAA Tournament; 1986 NIT) Lewis received All-SWC First-Team honors and was named the Mus- tangs’ MVP as a senior after averaging 18.6 points per game. He ended his Coaching Experience collegiate career with 1,026 points and 413 rebounds in 111 games. He started Year------School------Title 67 games for the Mustangs. Lewis graduated from SMU in 1986 with a degree 2006-Present---- Houston------senior assistant coach in psychology. 2002-06------TCU------assistant coach Following his collegiate career, Lewis was drafted by the San Antonio 1999-02------Baylor------assistant coach Spurs in the sixth round of the 1986 NBA Draft. He spent the 1986-87 season 1998-99------New Mexico------assistant coach playing professionally in Australia for Hobart and Melbourne. After returning 1996-98------Homeschool Christian Youth Assoc.------head coach from Australia, Lewis spent time with the Dallas Mavericks before a five-month 1990-96------Episcopal High School, Houston------head coach stint traveling with the Harlem Magicians. Born November 6, 1964, Lewis was born in Cornwall, N.Y. and attend- ed high school in Highland Falls, N.Y. He and his wife, Veronica, have three children: Kelvin, who is a freshman player at Auburn, Kalvin and Kaillyn.

70 2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM Trey Basket

Preston b Assistant Coach all Third Season at UH

Third Season Overall S taff Texas Lutheran, 1997

Beginning his third year as a member of the men’s basketball staff, Trey Preston is in his first season as an assistant coach at the University of Houston. Preston was named assistant coach in August 2006 after serving the previous two years as Houston’s video and summer camps director. Preston previously served as an assistant basketball coach at Incar- nate Word University in 2003-04 and helped guide the Crusaders to their fourth straight winning record. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Texas Lutheran Uni- versity, in 2002-03, when the Bulldogs finished the season with a 12-13 overall record and an 8-6 mark in the American Southwest Conference. Preston was a four-year letterman at Texas Lutheran (1993-97) and served as team captain during his final two seasons. He was a starting point guard, averaging 6.4 points and three assists per game as a junior. The Bull- dogs finished the season with a 20-9 overall record and won the Heart of Texas Conference championship with an 11-3 mark in 1995-96. Preston was also a starting point guard as a senior and helped lead Texas Lutheran to a 16-10 overall record and a 10-6 conference mark. He ended his career having scored 572 points. Preston graduated from Texas Lutheran with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1997. Preston received a master’s degree in educa- tion and sports administration at NOVA Southeastern University in 2003. A native of Austin, Texas, Preston played at Westlake High School from 1989-93, where he ended his career as the all-time assists leader. Born October 21, 1974, Preston and his wife, Jamie, have a son, Ty.

The Trey Preston File Birth Date: October 21, 1974 Hometown: Austin, Texas Alma Mater: Texas Lutheran, 1997 Wife: Jamie Children: Ty

Playing Experience Year------School------Career Highlights 1993-97------Texas Lutheran------Two-year starting point guard and team captain.

Coaching Experience Year------School------Title 2006-Present------Houston------assistant coach 2004-06------Houston------director of video operations/ summer camps 2003-04------Incarnate Word------assistant coach 2002-03------Texas Lutheran------administrative assistant

2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 71 Michael STAFF Young

ALL Director of Operations/ B Performance Enhancement Ninth Season at UH Houston, 2002 ASKET B

Former UH All-America selection Michael Young is in his ninth season at the University of Houston, and his third as the director of basketball opera- tions and performance enhancement for Cougar basketball players. Young took over his current responsibilities after serving one season as an assistant coach and five years as Houston’s strength and conditioning coach. He returned to his alma mater in 1998 after a 15-year professional career spent in the NBA and overseas. A 1984 first-round selection by the Boston Celtics, Young played three years in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers. He also played two seasons with the Detroit Spirit of the CBA, where he was named the CBA’s Player of the Year in 1986 after averaging 26 points per game. In addition to playing in the NBA and CBA, Young enjoyed an illustrious 14-year playing career overseas in the Philippines, Spain, Italy, France and Is- rael. In France, Young averaged 23 points per game while leading Limoges to the 1992 European Club Championship. It was the first time a French athletic club won a European title in any sport. In January 2003, Young was inducted into the French Sports Hall of Fame, and his number was retired. Before becoming a professional player, Young was a four-year starter at Houston and holds current Cougar records for most games and minutes played. The Houston native and Yates High School standout also joined All- America players Elvin Hayes and Otis Birdsong as the only players in school history to net over 2,000 points. Young also set a Southwest Conference re- cord for most field goals made. In addition, Young has the distinction of being the only Cougar to start on four teams that earned NCAA Tournament berths. As a freshman in 1980, he and Clyde Drexler became the first two freshmen forwards to start under Michael young File Guy V. Lewis and helped lead the Cougars to the 1981 NCAA Tournament. Birth Date: January 2, 1961 Hometown: Houston, Texas One of his “proudest moments” came the following year when the Cou- Alma Mater: Houston, 2002 Wife: Tina gars advanced to the NCAA Final Four, where they met a North Carolina team that featured Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins on its roster. Children: Michael Jr., Joseph, Mayorca, Jacob and Milan Maria Houston returned to the Final Four in 1982-83 with one of college bas- ketball’s most famous teams, “Phi Slama Jama.” Young led the team in scor- Playing Career Honors ing (17.3 points per game) and helped the Cougars advance to the National Year------School------Career Highlights Championship game for the first time in school history. 1980-84------Houston------1984 All-American Young returned for his senior season and teamed with Hakeem Olaju- starting forward on three NCAA Final Four Teams won to lead Houston to the 1984 NCAA title game against Georgetown. Became third Cougar to score 2,000 career points That season, The Sporting News and Basketball Weekly named him Set UH school records for most games played and a Second-Team All-American. The Associated Press, UPI and NABC Kodak most minutes played. chose him Third-Team All-American that same season. He also was a Consen- 2004------Inducted into Houston Athletics Hall of Honor sus First-Team All-SWC selection after leading the league in scoring with 19.8 2003------Inducted into French Sports Hall of Fame points per game. Young also was selected to the SWC Post-Season Classic’s All-Tournament Team three times. In the fall of 2004, UH honored Young for his All-America career when Coaching Experience he was inducted into the UH Hall of Honor. In addition to serving as Houston’s Year------School------Title strength and conditioning coach, Young earned a bachelor’s degree at UH in 2004-Present------Houston------Director of MBB Operations/ 2002. He and his wife, Tina, have five children: Michael Jr., Joseph, Mayorca, Performance Enhancement Jacob and Milan Maria. 2003-04------Houston------Assistant Coach 1998-03------Houston------Strength and Conditioning Coach

72 2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM Basket Darrell Chris

Hawkins Howell b Administrative Assistant Video Coordinator/ all First Season at UH Summer Camps Director Arkansas, 1997 Fourth Season at UH S taff Houston, 2002

Darrell Hawkins begins his first season as an administrative assistant Chris Howell enters his fourth season on the basketball staff at the Uni- after spending the past four years at Prairie View A&M. versity of Houston and his first season as the video coordinator and director of Hawkins served as the Panthers’ interim head coach in 2005-06 after summer camps. He assisted with Houston’s recruiting and scheduling efforts serving three years as an assistant coach. There, he played an integral part during his first three years. in Prairie View winning its first Southwestern Conference championship in 40 A 2002 graduate of UH, Howell returned to his alma mater in 2003 after years in 2002-03. He also coached five All-SWAC players during his tenure. serving as an assistant coach at Frank Phillips Junior College in 2002-03. He Born in Houston and raised in the city of Prairie View, Hawkins was a went to Frank Phillips after playing one season at Houston in 2001-02, and four-year letterman at the University of Arkansas, and helped lead the team to was a member of Houston’s 2002 NIT squad. Howell graduated from Robert E. two Southwest Conference championships and two Southeastern Conference Lee High School, where he earned all-district honors as a senior in 1997. championships. In addition to the Razorbacks playing in the 1990 NCAA Final Born August 11, 1978, in Tyler, Texas, Howell is a Houston resident Four, they also had an Elite Eight and three Sweet 16 appearances during who earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism with a minor in business his career. During his senior year, Hawkins led Arkansas in rebounding, and management at UH in 2002. he was a All-SEC Second Team selection. He also tied a NCAA Tournament record with eight steals in a game. After his collegiate career, Hawkins played professionally in the Conti- Michael nental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League, and over- seas in China and Europe. Richardson After his playing career ended, Hawkins worked for Cingular Wireless Academic Counselor before joining the coaching ranks at Prairie View A&M under former Houston First Season at UH assistant coach Jerome Francis. Hawkins graduated from Arkansas in 1992 University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and is the father of a 10-year old son, Hunter.

Michael Richardson enters his first season as the academic counselor John for the men’s basketball team at the University of Houston. Richardson came to Houston after earning a bachelor’s degree in business management in 2002 Houston and a master’s degree in organization management in 2004 at the University Associate Athletic Trainer of Phoenix. 10th Season at UH Richardson played professionally in Sweden, where he was named to Texas Tech, 1991 the All-Decade team, and also played in France, Lebanon, Israel and the Conti- nental Basketball Association. Richardson went to the professional ranks after playing for Tom Penders at the University of Texas, where he led the Southwest Conference in scoring in 1992-93. John Houston enters his 10th season as the associate ath- Born, November 5, 1970 in Muncie, Indiana, Richardson and his wife, letics trainer at the University of Houston, serving as the primary trainer for Pamela Berry-Richardson, have three children, Tyler, Shyia and Ashley. men’s basketball and assisting with all other sports teams. Houston also serves as the men’s basketball travel coordinator. Houston returned to the State of Texas after serving three Melvina years as the assistant trainer at Marshall University in Huntington, W. Va. While at Marshall, Houston was the primary trainer for the men’s bas- Brandley ketball team and assisted with all other sports teams. Secretary A native of Fritch, Texas, Houston graduated from Sandford-Fritch High Seventh Season at UH School in 1986 and earned his undergraduate degree at Texas Tech University in 1991. Houston received his master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1994, where he was a graduate assistant trainer. He went to Marshall after serving as the head trainer at Georgetown College in Kentucky. Houston is married to the former Amie Winn of Lexington, Ky., and they In her seventh year at the University of Houston, Melvina have one son, Trey. Brandley handles all secretarial duties within the men’s basketball office. Brandley came to UH after serving as an executive assistant to the Director of the SHAPE Community Center.

2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 73 In addition to her secretarial duties, Brandley has served as a pianist at This season, he is completing requirements for a bachelor’s degree her church and is a published editor for two fictional books —I Laugh To Keep in kinesiology and sports administration at UH. Born May 22, 1982, he has a From Crying and Confession From The Jumpseat — that were written by T. son, Jordan. taff

S Wendy Williams. Brandley also has performed as an actress for the Literary

t Writers Guild. Her hobbies include spoken word performance and writing, and she pursued an editing career. She enjoys reading African history and is a Reggae music enthusiast. Frank Brandley is the mother of two children: Bryant and Marlaina, and is

Suppor “auntie-mom” of her niece, Maxine. Watson Team Manager

all First Season at UH

b Rashid

Floyd Frank Watson is in his first season as a student manager at the Uni- Team Manager versity of Houston after serving as a student assistant at Sam Houston State Basket Second Season at UH during the 2004-05 season. He also coached the Brazoria County Ballers AAU club for three years that produced five collegiate players. Rashid Floyd is in his second season as an equipment manager at the Watson also was a assistant coach at Heritage Christian Academy University of Houston. Floyd came to Houston after spending one season as after graduating from Angleton High School in 2001, where he competed in an assistant coach at Middle Georgia College in 2004-05. basketball and cross country. Floyd also played basketball at Alabama A&M University from 1999-02, Born March 31, 1983, Watson is a post baccalaureate student in kine- where he was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team and received siology at Houston. the team’s academic award. He also played at Beville State Community Col- lege in Jasper, Ala., and earned Freshman of the Year honors in 1997-98. Floyd is a 1997 graduate of Klein Forest High School in Houston, and was an Trey Honorable Mention All-State selection and received the team’s MVP award as a senior. Born November 11, 1977, Floyd is a graduate student at UH with a major in sports administration. Palmer Team Manager Jared First Season at UH Lyons Trey Palmer is in his first season as a student manager at the Univer- Team Manager sity of Houston after playing football at Texas Christian High North in Houston Second Season at UH last year. Born December 8, 1987 in Houston, Palmer is majoring in sports administration at Houston.

Jared Lyons serves as a team manager after playing five games as a walk-on guard in 2005-06. Lyons pulled down one against Tulsa and handed out an assist against UCF in the quarterfinals of the 2006 Conference USA Tournament. He came to Houston after averaging 4.5 points and three assists as a point guard at Cedar Valley College. His best game came when he scored 13 points and handed out six assists against Bosier City Parish College. Grantscott Greene Lee DeLeon Sarah Youngdale Lyons earned All-District First Team and Second-Team All-Region hon- Dir. of Video Operations Director of Marketing Director of Cougar ors as a senior at McCallum High School in Austin. He also helped McCallum reach the Regional Finals during his senior year. Authentic Gift Shop

Dr. David Braunreiter Dr. Frederick Brown Dr. Bryant Frazier Dr. Walter Lowe Dr. Butch Peters Dr. Kevin Varner Team Physician Team Physician Team Physician Orthopedic Surgeon Team Dentist Orthopedic Surgeon

74 2006-07 HOUSTON BASKETBALL • WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM