The Carolinas Basketball League announced today that Hickory Nutz Head Coach and General Manager, Bryan Gates has been named to the position of Deputy Commissioner. Gates will continue in his present roles with the Nutz but will take on the league duties on a part time basis. "I really felt that the league needed a person who was on site all the time. I have been running the league from my home office in South Dakota but there are situations that arise that call for someone on the spot. Bryan has a tremendous background in the CBA, USBL and IBA and has proven how to produce a viable product this year in our league. I feel his knowledge and expertise will be a great asset to all of our current owners as well as our future investors.  After visiting with the team owners they also felt Bryan would do a super job  and praised the move. Says CBL Commissioner, John Jordan. To offset any conflict of interest issues, Jordan says he will handle any decisions that may have a direct impact on the Hickory team. "I do not want to put Bryan in a position where people question a decision of his thinking it may have been biased toward Hickory. Gates, aged 30 is happy to have the opportunity. "The CBL is a concept that I feel is workable, I have been involved in most of the other professional leagues here in the States and feel I have learned what works and what does not. To have the opportunity to put that practice into play and help shape a young league's future is the stuff dreams are made of." Says Gates.
    League owners and players will see the benefits of Gates presence almost immediately. The CBL also announced that league commissioner, John Jordan will be attending the United States Basketball League Festival in Dodge City Kansas this weekend. Jordan, along with league scouting director Pat Kraning will be attempting to identify some potential players, coaches and front office people for the league. Jordan also hopes to pursuade some of the various scouts in attendance to consider adding the CBL to their lists of must see events. "This is a trip that would not have been possible without Bryan being on board. With Bryan there to keep an eye on day to day events, it frees me up to go do what I do best which is promote the league and our players." Says Jordan.

Wilmington Wave Rockers, Owner Fred Wilson announced he had teminated Mitchell Wiggins as the teams head coach effecitve immediately. The owner also released forward Franklin Paul for conduct detrimental to the team. "This is an unfortunate set of circumstances but I felt it was time for the team to head in another direction. We are family entertainment and desire to put a professional product on the floor each time. The type of event you want to bring your kids to, that is my expectation. I did not appreciate the demeanor in which our team was being run. I got into this to have fun and give the youth of Wilmington some strong role models and that is what I intend on doing. I had allowed Coach Wiggins to make his own decisions in regards to players he brought in but I felt some of the choices he had made were not in line with my goals for this team." Said Wilson. League Commissioner John Jordan issued a short statement in regards to the firing. "It is always sad when tough decisions have to be made but I am fully supportive of Mr. Wilson's actions in this regard. I know other members of the league have expressed  professionalism concerns with the Wave Rocker players and coaching staff.  Right or wrong the head coach is the one who is ultimately held accountable for his own actions and those of his charges.  I have great respect for Mitchell Wiggins and all that he has accomplished in the game of basketball. I am grateful to him for his involvement in our league and hope he uses this as a learning experience as he furthers his coaching career". In the interim, Fred Wilson will take over as the team's head coach but a search is on for a permanent replacement.