Sept. 13, 2006

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Andy Allison, Rod Strickland and Shyrone Chatman have been named to the University of Memphis basketball operations staff, head coach John Calipari announced Wednesday. This announcement completes the Tiger staff for the 2006-07 season.

The new staff hires replace Milt Wagner and Ryan Miller, who were with the Tigers last year. Wagner left to take an assistant coach position on Tony Barbee's staff at UTEP, while Miller was hired as an assistant at Pepperdine.

"These positions are as important as any on our staff," said Calipari. "Andy, Rod and Shyrone all are striving to help make the Memphis basketball program better, while at the same time, using these positions to advance in the profession. This is as solid a staff I've had since I've been in coaching."

Allison takes over as the program's Director of Basketball Operations, after spending the previous two years as the Assistant to the Director of Basketball Operations. The 2006-07 campaign is the Columbus, Ohio, native's fifth overall season with the Tiger basketball program, as he served as a graduate assistant in the operations area from 2001-03.

In between his Memphis stints, Allison was the Director of Basketball Operations at Western Kentucky for the 2003-04 season. Prior to his first time at Memphis, Allison was an assistant coach at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. He was also the head coach of the program's junior varsity squad.

Allison earned a bachelor's degree in Education from Youngstown State University in 2000.

Strickland joins the Memphis basketball operations staff after a 17-year NBA career. An NBA first round draft pick by the Knicks in 1988, the New York City native played for the New York, San Antonio, Portland, Washington, Miami, Minnesota, Orlando, Toronto and Houston. A 1989 NBA All-Rookie second team pick, Strickland played in 1,094 career games and scored over 14,000 points (13.2 career average) and dished out nearly 8,000 assists (7.3 career average).

Strickland played his collegiate career at DePaul, where he was a four-year letterwinner and a two-time All-America selection. He helped lead the Blue Demons to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1985-88. While working on the Tiger staff, Strickland will take courses toward completing his bachelor's degree.

Chatman, a 2001 University of Memphis graduate, returns to the Tiger basketball program as a member of the operations staff. A four-year letterwinner, Chatman helped lead the Tigers to two National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearances, including the team's 2001 run to the NIT final four. The Baton Rouge, La., native played in 116 career games and posted career averages of 5.5 points and 2.1 rebounds. In his senior campaign which was also Calipari's first season at Memphis, Chatman averaged 9.2 points, 3.1 rebound and 4.6 assists.

Chatman joins the Memphis staff from his position with TennCare in the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

The Tigers open their 2006-07 regular season with a Nov. 16 date against Jackson State at FedExForum.