Thunder To Name Two Assistant Coaches

The Thunder could soon announce additions to its coaching staff for the 2009-10 season. But the impending announcement is beginning to look like a mere formality.

Oklahoma City has hired Dale Osbourne, an assistant with the Utah Flash, the Developmental League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Osbourne has 19 years of coaching experience, with stints in the NCAA, the D-League, USBL, CBA, WNBA and China. He spent the past two seasons with the Flash and worked under the late Dennis Johnson with the Austin Toros before joining the Flash.

Osbourne, 45, is a graduate of South Alabama, where he served as an assistant from 1992-99. Osbourne was as an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids HOOPS of the CBA from 2000-02 and with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA in 2003. From 2004-06 Osbourne coached the Dodge City Legend of the USBL, guiding his teams to consecutive regular season and division championships in 2004 and 2005 and the USBL championship in 2004-05. He was named 2004 USBL Coach of the Year. In China, Osbourne was head coach of the Vasda Legacy All-Stars and led that team to a 7-2 record against the Chinese Pro Team in 2000. That same year he also coached the Vasda Legacy College Exhibition Team during its exhibition tour through the United States.