New UNR coach to keep assistants

RENO - New Nevada basketball coach Mark Fox indicated that current assistant coaches David Carter and Josh Newman would remain on staff for next year.

Carter, who was named the lead assistant by Fox at Tuesday's press conference, has worked with Fox the past four years at Nevada.

Carter, who played point guard for St. Mary's College and led the Gaels to the NCAA tournament, also has worked at Eastern Washington and Diablo Valley College.

"He has a magical way of dealing with people," Fox said.

"He will be a head coach sooner than you think. He's a great coach and a great recruiter."

Newman, who got married over the weekend and was on his honeymoon, just completed his first season with the Wolf Pack. He coached at the same junior college in Texas that produced jumping-jack forward Jermaine Washington.

Fox said he would talk to Newman next week and determine whether the young assistant would move up to No. 2 assistant or stay at No. 3.

Nevada has one assistant's job open, and Fox already has assembled a short list.

One of the names on it is Diablo Valley College head coach Steve Coccimiglio, who coached Mo Charlo, one of Nevada's top recruits the past two years. Coccimiglio coached with Carter at DVC.

"I'm not in a big hurry (to fill it)," Fox said.

"Steve is a heck of a good coach, though."

Todd Okeson, the Wolf Pack's outstanding point guard, will be the graduate assistant next season.

Fox also indicated that he has two scholarships available, but may not use either one right away.

"I'm not sure that there is anybody out there good enough (to help us win)," the new Wolf Pack coach said. "We may just stand pat."

Even with the loss of Kirk Snyder, the Wolf Pack have a strong nucleus with Kevinn Pinkney, Nick Fazekas, Washington, Kyle Shiloh, Seth Taylor and Marcelus Kemp back. Washington and Kemp saw significant minutes off the bench throughout the season, and Shiloh is hoping to regain his form from early last season when he regularly played 10-to-12 minutes a game as a true freshman. He'll battle newcomer Lyndale Burleson for the point guard slot.

Fox is hoping that Charlo and 6-foot-11 Chad Bell, who sat out last year after transferring from New Mexico State, can come in and contribute immediately. The same can be said for Kevyn Green, a shooting guard for Oregon.

Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal. com or 881-1281.