Former NBA Star To Coach at Jewish Day School

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By Nathan Burstein September 12, 2011

A former NBA All-Star has landed an unlikely coaching gig — at a Jewish prep school in Florida.

It sounds like the set-up for a movie, but it’s true: Former professional point guard Kenny Anderson has signed on to coach boys’ basketball at the David Posnack Jewish Day School in Davie, Fla., a town located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Anderson got the job after receiving an invitation via Twitter from Jay Doobrow, the father of two students at the school.

The coaching gig marks something of a comedown for Anderson, who went bankrupt several years ago despite earning more than $50 million playing in the NBA. The Shmooze hopes the new job will prove part of a larger turnaround for Anderson, a 40-year-old who recently — and inspiringly, we think — completed his bachelor’s degree in May. (The player dropped out of college 20 years ago to join the NBA draft; he returned to school at his mother’s request.)

The prospect of getting a coach of Anderson’s pedigree initially generated skepticism at David Posnack. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll talk to Kenny Anderson. I’ll talk to Dwyane Wade, too,’” recalled Mitch Evron, the school’s athletic director, referring to the current Miami Heat star.

But Anderson’s interest proved real, and the former millionaire has agreed to a season of coaching at “little more than the normal coach’s stipend of $2,500.”

Anderson’s Jewish players are naturally excited, if also a little surprised. “When I found out, I was pretty psyched,” 10th-grade team member Jonah Wasserstrom said “He’s really coming here. It’s awesome. It’s a little shocking, because, you know, [we’re a] small Jewish school.”

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