Detroit Pistons name new head coach to Grand Rapids Drive

The Detroit Pistons announced that Donnie Tyndall will be the new head coach of the Grand Rapids Drive, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.

Tyndall, a Ravenna native, was an assistant coach with the Drive last season and spent the two seasons prior as an assistant for the Raptors 905, Toronto’s G-League affiliate. Before Duane Casey gave him a job with Toronto’s G League team, he was coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. He had slowly climbed the coaching ranks but received a 10-year ban related to a previous coaching stop and issues involving improper financial aid and academic issues with junior college transfers. Tyndall currently has a lawsuit against the NCAA.

The team also named this season’s assistant coaching staff — Courtney Alexander, a holdover from last season, as well as new coaches Cam Black and Jacob Porter.

Black was with the G-League’s Erie BayHawks, and spent time with the Atlanta Hawks and in the college ranks. Porter was most recently a basketball operations intern with the Pistons, Drive and Erie BayHawks as well as assisting Team USA at the World Cup qualifiers and in a support staff role.

Alexander was a first-round pick of the Orlando Magic in 2000 and bounced around the NBA for a few years. Tyndall also spent time as a head coach at Tennessee, Southern Mississippi and Morehead State. He also spent time on staffs for Middle Tennessee, Idaho, Louisiana State, St. Catherine College and Iowa Central Community College.

The Drive are coming off of a 28-22 season and a playoff appearance in the G League. Tyndall replaces Ryan Krueger, who spent two seasons as the Drive’s head coach.