Lonergan adds two to staff

By Jeff Pinkham, Burlington (Vt.) Free Press

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

New University of Vermont men's basketball coach Mike Lonergan wrapped up his recruiting last week. Now he's nearly done putting his coaching staff together.

Lonergan announced Monday that John Sanow and Hajj Turner will join him on the sidelines next season as assistant coaches. Sanow is a veteran of 17 seasons; Turner is a newcomer to coaching.

"I think they're going to do a great job," Lonergan said. "They'll each have things they'll focus on, but I want my guys to do a little bit of everything."

Sanow spent the last two seasons as an assistant at Division II Gannon University in Erie, Pa. Before that Sanow spent four seasons as the top assistant at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, and 11 years as an assistant at Division I St. Francis, Pa.

The Windber, Pa., native is a 1987 graduate of Indiana (Pa.) University, where he led the team in scoring in 1986. Sanow will focus on recruiting and player development.

"I'm really excited for the opportunity," Sanow said. "I'm going to work hard on recruiting, and when you're selling the University of Vermont there's a lot to sell. It's a great college town, there's the tradition of the basketball program and there's coach Lonergan's prior success winning a national championship at Catholic."

Turner comes to Burlington after spending two years at the University of Maryland, where he worked with Lonergan and served as the assistant director and men's basketball coordinator of the Terrapins' Academic Support and Career Development Unit.

The Charlottesville, Va., native received his graduate and post-graduate degrees from the University of Louisville, where he played for both Denny Crum and Rick Pitino although his career was hurt by three knee injuries. Turner will help with recruiting, player development and serve as a liaison between the team and the school's academic advisor.

"I've been excited all day," Turner said of his first coaching job. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity. I think I have a unique connection to this game. I've seen the game from a lot of different perspectives in a short period of time. And I haven't been out of the game that long, so I think I can relate to the players on the court."

Lonergan said he is interviewing candidates for the final position on his staff.