Leitao linked to NBADL coaching gig
Former University of Virginia coach Dave Leitao is a leading candidate to take over Rio Grande Valley of the NBA's Developmental League, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Leitao will meet with Houston Rockets front-office officials on Monday to further discuss the coaching vacancy with the franchise's minor league affiliate in Texas. Houston general manager Daryl Morey recently had a lengthy phone conversation with Leitao about his potential interest in the coaching job, one source said.
The Rockets purchased control of Rio Grande's basketball operations, and they want to use the head coaching job to develop future staff assistant coaches as well as players.
After four seasons and a 63-60 record, Virginia fired Leitao in March. The Cavaliers' 10-18 record was the program's worst since 1968. Leitao also had been the head coach at DePaul and Northeastern.
Clay Moser, who coached Rio Grande last season, is still a candidate for the job. The Rockets opened up the coaching search after taking over the team in July. Jason Hamm, who left the Sacramento Kings after three-plus years as an assistant coach, and D-League assistant Randy Livingston(notes) are other potential candidates for the Rio Grande Valley job.
Former Milwaukee Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak is the favorite to return to the Idaho Stampede as head coach, league sources said.
Krystkowiak reached the Continental Basketball Association's championship series as Idaho's coach in 2004 before leaving for a successful run at the University of Montana. He coached the Bucks for parts of two seasons, losing his job in 2008 with a 31-69 (.310) record. Krystkowiak is a candidate for an assitant's job with the Phoenix Suns, and hoping an offer comes his way, a source said. If he's passed over, he's expected to take the Idaho job.
