Sports
 

Penders says new era on way for Coogs

By Tricia Ene
The Daily Cougar

An exciting season is in the works for the UH men's basketball team. Tom Penders announced in early June additions to his staff that he hopes will make a significant difference in play this season. Penders has already noted positive preseason changes, such as the team boasting the most improved grade-point average of the Athletic Department this past semester.

"I am truly excited about the staff," Penders said on the UH Athletics Web site. "We can measure up with any staff in the country. I am confident they will represent the University of Houston in an utmost professional manner."

Penders named Shanon Hays as associate head coach and Trey Preston as director of summer camps and video coordinator. They join George Walker, who will serve as an assistant coach.

Former Cougar All-American player Michael Young was hired as director of basketball operations and performance enhancement. In addition, Penders appointed Melvin Haralson as an associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.

Each new member of the Cougar men's basketball staff brings something special to the team, whether it's through veteran coaching experience or serving on a team with a winning record.

Hays' past experience draws from a diverse coaching background. He is given credit for leading Midland College to a phenomenal 30-7 record. In the 2003-04 season, he helped lead the Chaparrals to a third-place finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament. Prior to his arrival at Midland, he served as an assistant coach at Texas Tech from 1999-2001. He also served as head coach at Abilene Christian from 1996-99.

Preston was assistant coach at the University of Incarnate Word last year. He graduated from Texas Lutheran, where he coached in 2002-03. While playing for TLU, he served as team captain and starting point guard for the Bulldogs in the 1995-96 squad that won the Heart of Texas Conference championship.

This will be Haralson's fifth year at Houston. At Texas, Haralson was an assistant coach from 1990-95.

Walker came back to Houston in April from working as head coach at The Honor Roll School in Sugar Land. This will be his 10th season as a Cougar assistant coach.

Young, a four-year letterman at Houston, will be working on his seventh season as a staff member for the basketball squad.
 
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