WBA NEWS

Archer and Ellis named 2006 WBA Coaches of the Year

Monday, July 3, 2006 9:00 AM

Chris Terrell, WBA

David Archer of the Cartersville Warriors and Harold Ellis of the Rome Gladiators are the 2006 WBA Coaches of the Year. The two coaches met in the WBA finals this past Saturday in front of a very enthusiastic crowd of Gladiator fans, Warrior fans, and basketball fans alike but the path that these two coaches took was very different. Archer took over as Head Coach and General Manager this season for the Warriors and the expansion team was originally slated to open its innaugural season in Griffin, a suburb to Atlanta. The city of Griffin, unfortunately, was unprepared to take on the responsibility of hosting a proffesional basketball team and problems with city officials and changes with venue led the Warriors to a change mid-season to nearby Cartersville. Archer knew Cartersville well as he has successfully promoted events as Commissioner of the SEBL in past years with City management and the business community. Archer along with the leadership of Warriors owner Gerald Williams made the move a success as after getting out to a 1-2 start to the regular season finished extremely strong riding it all the way to the 2006 WBA Championship game. For his hard work and dedication to the team's new community in Cartersville coupled with the tremendous success on the court, Archer was selected as Co-Coach of the Year.

The Emcee of the Awards Ceremony, Former Atlanta Hawk and current WBA Commissioner Mike Glenn congratulated Archer and made special note of his accomplishments. Also named Coach of the Year this season was the 2006 WBA Champion Rome Gladiators Head Coach Harold Ellis . Ellis is no stranger to success in the WBA as this is his second consecutive Championship, winning the title last year for the Gladiators as well. Although Rome had the consistency of a very supportive community; this is Rome's third season in the WBA, Ellis had his own obstacles to over come with this season's Gladiators team. Prior to the season it was decided that the Glads would bring in a new group of players to develop and many of the key components to last season's championship team had moved on to new opportunities. Without the marquee star player, the Gladiators under Coach Ellis's leadership, used a team first attitude that saw a different guy step up to lead the team on any given night. At the same time Coach Ellis was preparing his team for the playoffs this season, he was also assisting the Atlanta Hawks with their preperation for the 2006 NBA Draft. Draft night for the NBA was Wednesday, June 28th and in the boiler room until late in the night was Ellis and the rest of the Atlanta Hawks brain trust with a lottery pick on the board and several other potential moves on the table. Ellis didn't miss a beat, in addition to fielding the team with the best regular season, Ellis and his Gladiators opened the WBA Championship the very next night in impressive fashion, moving quickly to defeat the Cleveland Majic and putting his team into the next round.

This year the two best teams and the two best coaches were mano-y-mano across from one another to start the WBA Championship game. Each overcame his own set of obstacles to make this year very special for both of their respective teams. Congratulations to Head Coaches David Archer and Harold Ellis on terrific seasons and your announcement as Coaches of the Year was well deserving. Continued success to your teams and communities as you now turn your sights to the 2007 WBA Championship Title.

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