CBA

• George Karl returns to CBA

  
  

  Boise, ID (Sports Network) - Former NBA coach George Karl returned to the CBA on Monday as a new member of the Idaho Stampede ownership group.

  Karl's head coaching career started in 1980 with the CBA's Montana Golden Nuggets and ended with a stint with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.

  "I am always looking for an adventure and this opportunity has provided me the chance to be back in the CBA, where my career first started," said Karl.

  During his career as a head coach, he was named CBA Coach of the Year three times and is also the NBA's 15th all-time winningest coach.

  Karl accepted his last head coaching position prior to the 1998-99 season with the Bucks. Karl, who inherited a team that missed the playoffs seven straight years, led Milwaukee to four playoff berths and compiled a 205-173 mark in five seasons with the club.

  Karl guided the Bucks to their first division title in 2001 and first Eastern Conference finals appearance since the 1986 campaign. The Philadelphia 76ers ended that run in seven games.

  In 2001, Karl became the 17th coach to win 600 games and in doing so was the sixth fastest coach in NBA history to achieve the feat. He is the third-winningest coach in club history, behind Don Nelson (540 wins) and Larry Costello (410).

  In October 2001, Karl was selected as the head coach to the USA Basketball's 2002 World Championship team that competed in the FIBA World Basketball Championships in Indianapolis. The United States finished a disappointing sixth in the competition.

  Prior to his time in Milwaukee, Karl had spent the previous six full years as the head coach in Seattle. He helped guide the SuperSonics to the NBA Finals in 1996, only to lose to the Chicago Bulls. During Karl's time in Seattle, the Sonics averaged 59 wins per year and made the playoffs each season.

  Karl's NBA head coaching career also includes stops with the Cleveland Cavaliers (1984-86) and the Golden State Warriors (1986-88).

  For his career, Karl has an overall record of 708-499 in the NBA.

  Idaho has been busy this offseason, also naming Joe Wolf as new head coach. Wolf takes over a club that set a franchise record for wins last season with 37 and earned its first trip to the CBA Finals.

  The Stampede coaching position became vacant when Larry Krystkowiak was named head coach at the University of Montana on May 13.

  09/27 16:00:50 ET