"Coach Nasty", Corliss Williamson Returns To Kings As Assistant Coach
By Sean Stanfield
(Sacramento, KHTK Sports 1140) Sacramento Kings fans, for the first time in years, are genuinely excited about the team's future. Part of that excitement inherently comes from the new ownership group's attention to the team's past.
The Kings announced this morning, and Williamson confirmed in an interview with KHTK Sports 1140 Morning Show hosts Keith Brooks and Carmichael Dave, that he will be joining the staff of head coach Michael Malone as an assistant. The player formerly known as "Big Nasty" seemed excited about the vision Coach Malone has for the team and returning to Sacramento.
"I've always said that if there was one place I'd live besides Arkansas (his home state), it would be Sacramento." he said. "It reminds me a lot of Arkansas. How much the fans support the team and appreciate hard work." he continued.
Selected 13th overall in the 1995 NBA Draft, Williamson spent 12 seasons in the NBA, including two stops in Sacramento and time in Detroit where he earned Sixth Man of the Year honors (2001-02) before an NBA Championship with the team in 2004. He is part of a select group of NBA players to have won an NCAA title (AK Razorbacks) and NBA Championship.
Williamson joins a respected group of former Kings within the organization. Bobby Jackson and Abdur-Rahim were retained by the new ownership group and Kings great Mitch Richmond is part of the minority group of owners. While fans remember Williamson's gritty style of low post play, constant motor and leadership abilities, he is also the only two-time recipient of the annual Oscar Robertson Triple Double Award bestowed on the Kings player who best exemplifies excellence on and off the court.
