Gary Payton Sr. takes over at College of Alameda

Previous NBA star Gary Payton Sr. is the brand-new head coach of the College of Alameda men’s basketball team, the school announced Saturday.

“Gary Payton is the ideal choice for the College Of Alameda for a variety of reasons,” athletic director Ramaundo Vaughn said. “Gary has actually constantly been a leader and winner. We know that Coach Payton will hold our athletes responsible on the court, in the class and in the neighborhood. During the interview process, he spoke about having our student-athletes in the community, giving back. The energy and enthusiasm that he brings together with his genuine love for the East Bay is unmatched. The opportunity for our players to gain from one of the all-time NBA greats and Olympic gold medalist is one that we knew we could not pay for to skip.”

Payton, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, was the head coach at the financially strapped NAIA Lincoln University in Oakland, California, the previous three seasons before taking over at Alameda, the neighboring junior college on an island.Payton, an Oakland local, inherits a program that went 7-21 last season while playing in the Bay Valley Conference.Payton, 56, also has actually been coaching in the Big3 league given that its beginning in 2017, and this previous season led Bivouac to a title while being called the league’s coach of the year.During 17 seasons in the NBA, Payton won a champion in 2006 with the Miami Heat.”The Glove” was known for his stifling defense and was the first point guard to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year.The nine-time All-Star’s boy, Gary Payton II, plays for the Golden State Warriors.