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Former all-star Ruland to coach in D-League

Wed 18th, July 2007

. ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The Albuquerque Thunderbirds on Wednesday hired two-time NBA All-Star and former Iona College coach Jeff Ruland as head coach.

"I've been to where D-League players want to go, the NBA," Ruland said. "Guys want to learn and I can show them — I can't make them, but I can show them." Ruland, 48, succeeds Michael Cooper, who resigned in April to rejoin the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. Cooper, a college standout at New Mexico, led the Thunderbirds to the D-League title in the first of his two seasons in Albuquerque. Ruland coached at Iona, his alma mater, for nine seasons. He had a 139-135 record and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2000, 2001 and 2006. Though last season's squad went 2-28, Ruland posted three 20-win seasons at Iona. "He has a great combination of NBA experience and a proven ability to develop young men for success at the next level," said Thunderbirds co-owner Sam Bregman. "We look forward to watching Coach Ruland bring another D-League championship to Albuquerque." Ruland played five seasons for the Washington Bullets and was selected to the 1984 and 1985 Eastern Conference All-Star teams. His best season was 1983-84, when he averaged 22.2 points and 12.3 rebounds while shooting 58% from the floor. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights

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