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Show Monday "> July 28, 2008 w Utah up Rocky w w Baseball hires new assistants Utah Valley baseball coach Eric Madsen has announced the hiring of assistant coaches Dave Carter and Case) Nelson. Both Carter and Nelson have coached at Ulah Valley in the past and re-join ihc staff as Madsen. who took over the head coach position on July 1st, becomes the fourth head coach in Mic program's 36-yeai' hisIon,. "I iu-.c iv,o will help bring the Ulah Valley baseball program lo a new level," said Madsen. "Dave has a proven track record as a recruiter and an instructor and has always been able to get the most out o\' the pitchers he's coached. C asey brings a lot of knowledge and energy and a great pedigree of coaching lo our program." Carter returns lo Utah Valley after spending the past live .seasons at the College ol Southern Idaho. He coached in Orem from 2000 to 2003 and returns for his second stint w ith the school and with Madsen. whom he coached with al the College of Eastern Utah from iyyh-yy. "It's exciting to be back at Utah Valley and to be working with Coach Madsen again." said Carter. "It's good to be in an environment like this with the potential that is here. I t s also greai to be working u iili Case), who I coached here al Utah Valley." During his coaching ca- reer. Carter has coached several players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. including current Texas Rangers pitcher Willie Eyre and First round pick Kosta Koufos experiencing growing pains Parker Donat Sports writer This past week the Utah Jazz began the Rocky Mountain Review a tittle rocky, losing its first two games to the San Antonio Spurs and the Atlanta Hawks. Kosta Koufos, the Jazz's 23rd pick in the 2008 draft showed an unimpressive five points and four rebounds starting his debut with the Jazz on last Fridays game against the Spurs. The Jazz made an embarrassing 29% from the field, losing 57 to 82. "We all play hard as a team," Koufos said. "We're just learning," "Koufos needs to adjust to the quicker speed of this pro summer league and to the way NBA officials call the game," said Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin. "Not getting frustrated under adversity will help, too." After each game Koufos says he gains confidence. "Yeah, definitely, I'm feeling more and more comfortable as each day passes; I'm still learning the system, I'm just glad to be with the Utah Jazz." Considering Koufus is only 19, the Jazz can't be more pleased after he denied a $5 million deal to play for the Olypiacos club team in Athens. Koufos, proving himself dedicated to the organization, decided this summer he would play for the Jazz in the Rocky Mountain Revue summer. camp. Last Thursday, the Jazz were given another chance for redemption by playing the up-tempo fast-breaking Atlanta Hawks. Morris Almond started the game with a block into the crowd eliciting a huge uproar from fans. Acie Law answered for the Hawks by making two easy fast break dunks. The second half was all Almond and no Koufos. Morris Almond's inside shooting and physical drives drove Atlanta almost entirely out of the game. Almond shot 10 for 19 from the floor Kansas City Royals pitcher Brandon Duckworth. Nelson returns to Utah Valley after spending the 2007 season at BYU a.s the team's Director of Baseball Operations. He was a volunteer assistant for the Wolverines during the 2006 season. Nelson hegan his collegiate playing career al Ulah Valley in 2003, the school's final junior college season. He also played at Salt Lake Community College in 2004 before finishing his career with two seasons al BYU. Former Wolverine practicing with D-League Ambassadors Photos by Parker Don.il/ UVU Rev (Top) Jazz swingman Morris Almond makes his way to the basket as Utah escaped with an 83-78 win over Atlanta. (Bottom}Urah'$ newest big man Kosta Koufos made his Jazz debut at the Rocky Mountain Revue. Former Ulah Valley basketball player Jordan Brady has been practicing with ihe Ambassadors of ihc D-Leaguc and a I for 3 from behind the three-point line. Not until the end of the fourth quarter did Luke Jackson and Brian Randle step up to make the game interesting with !4 seconds left in the game, being down only by two. The Jazz pulled it together and came out on top winning 83-78. Morris Almond ended with a camp high 29 points while Kosta Koufos had only nine points, "I'm glad to come out with a win," Koufos said. "We just ran through the coach's system and it works. I'm just glad we came out with a victory tonight."1 team that will participate in the upcoming Rocky Mountain Review in Sail Lake City. Brady, u forward from Vernal. Ulah. was invited lo practice with the team earlier this week and said he is excited for the opportunity. "It's been really fun and an Jazz re-sign Williams Matt Beaudin Sports editor As has become a trend in the NBA, superstars who are the cornerstones of their franchise are opting for less money to sign shorter deals. Following in the footsteps of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul, point guard Deron Williams has settled on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth with the Utah Jazz. The deal will pay Williams nearly S50 million for the first three years and nearly $70 million if he sticks around for the fourth year of his contract. So, for the near future at least, the Jazz has their man. The next important contract to negotiate will be with Carlos Boozer, who can opt out of his deal after next season. For Utah, the most important way to solidify Boozer as a Jazzman awesome experience," Brady commented. "It's good exposure for what I'm trying lo do, will be to win, and witfi Williams locked up for the next several years that shouldn't be a problem. After failing to make the playoffs in Williams' rookie season Utah has returned to form as perennial title conSee JAZZ • B6 which is play basketball in Europe." Bntd\ has an agent who is current I \ trying to negotiate a deal lhat would send Brady overseas to play. |