FanShot

High School Coach Michael Peck To Coach Idaho Stampede

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Brian Snow of FoxSports.com reports on Twitter that Findlay Prep coach Michael Peck could be the next coach of the Idaho Stampede, the Portland Trail Blazers' D-League affiliate. ----------------------------- Hearing Michael Peck, HC at Findlay Prep, will be leaving to be the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers NBDL team. ----------------------------- Findlay Prep, located in Henderson, Nevada, is one of the country's elite high school basketball programs. According to a recent report, the Blazers re-opened their search for the Stampede job after interviewing multiple candidates. Update: The Idaho Stampede have officially announced the hiring in a press release on Tuesday. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports on Twitter the following two names will join Peck's coaching staff. ---------------------------- Former NBA player Scott Williams and ex-Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen hired as assistants for D-League's Idaho Stampede... Williams and Rohrssen are finalizing deals to work for Portland's D-League team in Idaho, sources say. ---------------------------- Here's the Stampede's press release to announce Peck's hiring. ---------------------------- Michael Peck has been named the ninth head basketball coach in Idaho Stampede history, the club and its NBA affiliate, the Portland Trail Blazers, announced today. The 17-year coaching veteran is expected to be introduced to the media, season ticket holders and corporate partners early next week. "This is a great opportunity with a wonderful organization," Peck said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity ahead of me." Peck had been the head basketball coach of the Findlay College Prep Program at the Henderson International School in Henderson, Nev., just outside of Las Vegas, the past five seasons. Peck's teams accumulated a record of 157-8, including an unbeaten record of 65-0 at home during that stretch. Findlay was the consensus No. 1 team in the country after a 33-0 season in 2009, and three of the last four years, Findlay won the National High School Invitational (2012, 2010, 2009). In addition, Findlay was the National Prep School Championship Runner-Up in 2008 after finishing the season 32-1. During Peck's tenure, Findlay posted a 45-game winning streak (from 2008-09) and went 14-2 on ESPN nationally televised games. "The Idaho Stampede warmly welcomes Michael as our new Head Coach," Stampede Managing Investor Bill Ilett said. "Obviously, his record speaks for itself. In addition, he has proven he can develop players of NBA caliber and we look forward to him bringing future success to the Idaho Stampede." Peck has coached six McDonald's All-Americans, six Parade All-Americans, six Jordan Brand All-Americans and six NBA players, including Tristan Thompson (Cleveland), Avery Bradley (Boston), Corey Joseph (San Antonio), DeAndre Liggins (Orlando), Joel Anthony (Miami) and Louis Amundson (Indiana). "Michael Peck will be a great fit for the Stampede and the Trail Blazers," said Trail Blazers Assistant General Manager Bill Branch. "He brings a work ethic and experience that will benefit the Stampede and the continued development of our players." Peck was a four-year letter winner in basketball at Northwood University from 1988-93, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Peck went on to get his Masters of Education at Saginaw Valley State University in 1998. After his time as a student, Peck coached the Men's basketball team as an assistant at Saginaw Valley State from 1998-2003, before becoming the video coordinator at UNLV from 2003-06, working under coaches Lon Kruger and Charlie Spoonhour. In his time in the Las Vegas community, Peck secured Findlay's Nike team sponsorship contract, developed the partnership with ESPN for nationally televised games, while also participating with the Board of Directors, Best Buddies of Southern Nevada, and guest speaking for numerous charity events and involving himself in programs for special-needs children. For those searching for more information about Findlay Prep, more than three-dozen episodes of a web series about the Findlay program have been published to http://theseason.wordpress.com. Peck and his wife Terri have two children, Madison, 13, and Gavin, 4. "We are excited that Portland has picked the right fit to improve the product on the floor," said Stampede President and General Manager Steve Brandes. "The combination of his player development skill set and understanding of business development and the community will be a huge asset to our franchise." ---------------------------- Hat tip: @Seth_Baul -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter