FORMER TAR HEEL TO COACH PISTONS

Detroit Pistons’ GM Joe Dumars has named former Tar Heel John Kuester as the Pistons’ new head coach – the sixth new head man in the past ten years.

Kuester replaces Michael Curry, who was fired on June 30 after going 39-43 in his first season and being swept by Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit had reached the Eastern Conference finals in the previous six seasons under Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown and Flip Saunders.

Dumars was said to be looking for “more experience” and Kuester has coached in the NBA for 19 years, but never as a head coach. He was with Detroit under Larry Brown when the Pistons upset the Lakers in 2004 to win the NBA Championship.

Detroit has almost completely turned over that roster, with only Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince remaining from the 2003-04 championship team. They added Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon in the first hours of free agency.

Kuester played high school basketball at Benedictine in Richmond, Va., and joined the UNC program in 1973. A contributor right from the start, he was a solid all-around player for some of Dean Smith's most successful teams.

Kuester's most significant contribution came during the Tar Heels' run to the NCAA title game in 1977. With several key players, including Phil Ford and Walter Davis battling injuries, Kuester led UNC to a 79-72 victory over Kentucky in the East Regional final, earning MVP honors. The Tar Heels eventually lost to Marquette in the NCAA championship game.

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