Coaching staff

Whammer Jammer said:

I believe the best defense Bama displayed was while TR was on the staff...hope the rumor is true!

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Avery Johnson has filled the remaining opening on his staff at Alabama with a big-name, longtime AAU coach who has coached players such as ex-Kentucky star and current Los Angeles Laker Julius Randle, Duke's Matt Jones and Johnson's son, Avery Johnson Jr.

The Tide have hired Scott Pospichal, who will work in conjunction with associate head coach Bob Simon and assistant coach Antoine Pettway.

Pospichal, who has more than 30 years of coaching experience at the AAU, junior college and high school levels, had coached the AAU power Texas Titans of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League since 2005.

More than 25 of Pospichal's Titans players signed Division I scholarships.

"Scott is a legendary AAU coach, and we are very excited for him to join our program at the University of Alabama," Johnson said in a statement. "During his time with the Texas Titans, he has helped develop numerous players who have went on to do great things at the college and professional levels. He is an excellent coach who specializes in the offensive part of the game and is a great communicator."

The Titans made seven national championship game appearances and won four national titles during Pospichal's 10 years as coach.

"We went through an extensive, vigorous hiring process to bring in the person who we felt would best help us in every aspect of our program, focusing on the areas of recruiting, coaching and player development," Johnson said. "There is no doubt in my mind that Scott fits this mold perfectly and will be a tremendous asset to our program."

Johnson has a longstanding relationship with Pospichal, who told AL.com's Kevin Scarbinsky in April that Johnson would allow him to sit in on coaches meetings when Johnson coached in the NBA.

Johnson traveled to watch Johnson Jr.'s games when he played for the Titans, Pospichal said.

"I feel like I've received the golden ticket for this opportunity to be the assistant basketball coach at the University of Alabama," Pospichal said. "Coach Johnson and I have had a relationship dating back for a few years now. I have always believed in him so much.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to work with him and work at an iconic university and terrific program like Alabama. I am absolutely thrilled out of my mind to get there and get started."

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