<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Former NBA point guard Rod Strickland didn't need to think long when the chance to join John Calipari's staff at the University of Memphis came along. "I got a phone call from (former Tiger forward Arthur Barclay) saying that Coach was interested in hiring me," Strickland said. "I called (Calipari) about two seconds after that, and he told me about the opportunity. I was listening but I was ready to say, 'Yeah.' All he had to say was, 'Do you want the job?'" Eventually he did, and Calipari on Thursday confirmed the former DePaul standout's hiring as the Tigers' new assistant coordinator of basketball operations. The 40-year-old Strickland, a native of New York City, played for nine teams during his 17-year NBA career, most notably the Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers. A first-round draft pick by the New York Knicks in 1988, Strickland went on to average 13.2 points and 7.3 assists over 1,094 career games before retiring following the 2004-05 season. "He may have been the best point guard in the league who didn't have the big name," Calipari said. "He'll be a great resource for these guys even if he's not in a coaching position." </div> Source Those players better make sure they don't steal his special shakes during practices and game time. Just ask Juwan Howard.
