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Memphis Grizzlies name Bob Donewald Jr. Head Coach of Iowa Energy

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced Bob Donewald Jr. as head coach of its NBA Development League team, the Iowa Energy. Per team policy, terms of the deal, which is pending NBA approval, are not disclosed.

“Bob has a proven track record of player development and shares in the collaborative vision of the Memphis Grizzlies and Iowa Energy,” said Grizzlies Head Coach Dave Joerger. “He is a tireless worker and effective communicator who will be important in helping our players reach their potential as we begin our new partnership with Iowa.”

“We are pleased to welcome Bob to our organization,” said Jed Kaplan, Managing Partner of the Iowa Energy. “Bob has a great passion for the game, and we are excited for him to become a member of the Iowa community.”

Donewald joins Iowa with over two decades of coaching experience with eight different organizations throughout the world, most recently serving as head coach of the Chinese National Team (2010-12) and spending three seasons in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) as head coach of the Shanghai Sharks (2009-11), owned by former NBA All-Star Yao Ming, and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers (2011).

In addition, Donewald has worked four NBA seasons, including three as an assistant coach under Paul Silas with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04), New Orleans Hornets (2002-03) and Charlotte Hornets (2001-02). His NBA tenure also includes a stint with the New Jersey Nets (1993-94) as a scout and assistant to Vice President and General Manager Willis Reed.

Before coaching in the NBA, Donewald spent five seasons (1996-2001) as a head coach and general manager in the British Basketball League (BBL), leading his teams to the championship series on three occasions.

Donewald, the son of acclaimed NCAA coach Bob Donewald, began his coaching career as a student-assistant coach at Western Michigan University (1989-93) He has served as an assistant coach at Morehead State University (1994-96) and the University of Alabama-Birmingham (2007-08) and has additional international experience as a head coach in Brazil (2005-06) and Ukraine (2008-09).

The Memphis Grizzlies and Iowa Energy entered into a single-affiliation partnership, beginning with the 2014-15 season, on May 6, 2014. Memphis became the 14th NBA team to have a one-on-one affiliation with an NBA D-League team. The teams’ “hybrid affiliation,” at the time the sixth of its kind in the NBA D-League, allows the NBA team to control the NBA D-League team’s basketball operations, while the NBA D-League team’s ownership maintains primary responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations and community initiatives.

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2014-15 Season Tickets, or 12- and 22-Game Packs can do so by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com. Season Tickets start at $7 per game. 22-Game Packs start at $12 per game and 12-Game Packs start as low as $15 per game. Preseason and Regular Season Single-Game tickets go on-sale Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. For more information on the Grizzlies, please visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow on Twitter (@memgrizz).