Drexler Signs Five-Year Deal To Coach Houston Cougars

Clyde Drexler, a member of Houston’s Phi Slama Jama dunking fraternity of the 1980s, returned to his alma mater Wednesday as coach of the Cougars but won’t take over until he completes his final NBA season with the Houston Rockets.

“After 15 years of doing one job, it was time to do something else,” Drexler said. “There comes a time when everyone must make changes and there’s nothing I’d rather do than coach at the University of Houston.”

The 10-time NBA All-Star is replacing the fired Alvin Brooks, who in five years had only one winning season.

Drexler signed a five-year contract with a base salary of $150,000, although he could earn much more through incentives.

“I love the Cougars and I think we have a great opportunity to bring back the excitement and the success Cougar basketball enjoyed during my college playing days,” Drexler said. “This is a new chapter in my career and a new challenge, but I’m ready for it.”

Houston hasn’t been in the NCAA Tournament since it lost to Georgia Tech in the first round of the 1992 Midwest Regional under Pat Foster.

A former Arizonan accused of being a bookie in a 1994 point-shaving scheme involving Arizona State University is seeking dismissal of federal sports gambling charges in Phoenix on grounds that investigators leaked details before he was indicted.

The action on behalf of Benny Silman, 26, of North Hollywood, Calif., came a day after two others indicted in the alleged scheme pleaded guilty to related charges.